George Lawlor Urges Faster Registration for Ukrainian Doctors
George Lawlor urged faster integration of Ukrainian healthcare professionals into the Irish health service, citing qualified practitioners now working in lower-skilled roles. He asked whether the state can expedite their registration so they can work in their trained disciplines.
Lawlor described meeting a GP who qualified in Kyiv, practised seven years as a GP and six years as an intern, and is now working as a healthcare assistant in a primary care centre in Wexford. He also recounted meeting a man who had qualified and worked as a surgeon and was moving to specialise in neurosurgery, now employed by a drain clearing company in Wexford. He said they belong to a WhatsApp group of some 315 highly skilled Ukrainian healthcare professionals and that the route to working in their disciplines in Ireland is long and cumbersome.
Lawlor asked directly if there is any way to expedite the entry of Ukrainian healthcare professionals into the health service, stressing they are here through no fault of their own and are eager to take part in the workforce.
The First Minister acknowledged improvements by regulatory bodies. The NMBI, the Nurses and Midwives Board, has improved registration times, and Coru, which covers health and social care professionals, has made significant progress on registrations for professions such as physiotherapy.
Concern was expressed about the Medical Council’s processes. The Medical Council has been given a clear direction to improve, will report back in early September, and updates will be provided to the Taoiseach and the Cabinet Committee. It was stated that the Medical Council has received significant additional investment and must ensure, from a public safety perspective, that as many doctors as possible are registered as quickly as possible.
Examples cited
Lawlor described meeting a GP who qualified in Kyiv, practised seven years as a GP and six years as an intern, and is now working as a healthcare assistant in a primary care centre in Wexford. He also recounted meeting a man who had qualified and worked as a surgeon and was moving to specialise in neurosurgery, now employed by a drain clearing company in Wexford. He said they belong to a WhatsApp group of some 315 highly skilled Ukrainian healthcare professionals and that the route to working in their disciplines in Ireland is long and cumbersome.
Call to expedite registrations
Lawlor asked directly if there is any way to expedite the entry of Ukrainian healthcare professionals into the health service, stressing they are here through no fault of their own and are eager to take part in the workforce.
Regulatory progress noted
The First Minister acknowledged improvements by regulatory bodies. The NMBI, the Nurses and Midwives Board, has improved registration times, and Coru, which covers health and social care professionals, has made significant progress on registrations for professions such as physiotherapy.
Medical Council directed to act
Concern was expressed about the Medical Council’s processes. The Medical Council has been given a clear direction to improve, will report back in early September, and updates will be provided to the Taoiseach and the Cabinet Committee. It was stated that the Medical Council has received significant additional investment and must ensure, from a public safety perspective, that as many doctors as possible are registered as quickly as possible.
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Transcript
Thank you. I recently met with a Ukrainian woman who qualified as a GP in Kyiv. Practised for seven years as a GP, six years as an intern. She is now working as a healthcare assistant, doing a very fine job in a primary care centre in Wexford. Last week I met a man working with a drain clearing company in Wexford. He fled the conflict in Ukraine where, having qualified and worked as a surgeon, he was moving to specialise in neurosurgery. They belong to a WhatsApp group with some 315 other highly skilled healthcare professionals from Ukraine. Their route to working in their discipline is long and cumbersome here in Ireland. And we employ highly skilled healthcare workers from right across the globe. How can we? Is there any way we can expedite the entry of Ukrainian healthcare professionals, highly skilled, into our health service? Given that they are here, through no fault of their own, but are eager and keen to take part in our workforce. Thank you. First Minister. And we, to be very clear, are very keen for them to work here, and there are three aspects to that. The NMBI, the Nurses and Midwives Board, have done extremely good work on improving their registration times, and I am confident about that side of things. Coru, on the health and social care professionals, more generally, have made very significant progress. Though the Taoiseach and I are discussing about how we can bring that further, in respect of professions, on physiotherapists, and a range of professions in that space, but that is moving on. The one where I have concern, and you have reflected there, both a GP and a surgeon, is the Medical Council. I have given a very clear direction to the Medical Council to improve their processes. They are due to report back to me in early September, and I will be keeping the Taoiseach and the Cabinet Committee updated on this. But it is very clear that the Medical Council have received very significant additional investment, and it is now up to them, from a public safety perspective, to ensure there are as many doctors registered as can be, as quickly as can be. Thank you. Minister.