Medical Council Launches ‘invaluable’ guide for doctors who are new to medical practice in Ireland

Medical Council Launches 'invaluable' guide for doctors who are new to medical practice in Ireland

Safe Start - A guide for doctors who are new to medical practice in Ireland is available now

Friday, 28th September 2018: The Medical Council has published a guide for doctors who are new to medical practice in Ireland as part of its Safe Start initiative. This guide has been designed to aid and support doctors who are either new to medical practice in the Ireland, recently graduated doctors or doctors who are returning to practice from overseas.

Safe Start includes essential information on consent, prescribing, End of Life care, record keeping, general conduct and communication skills. It also includes valuable resources that support doctor’s wellbeing and a general introduction to the Irish healthcare system.

Ms Jantze Cotter, Director of Professional Development and Research at the Medical Council, discussed the benefits of this guidance and stated: “The Safe Start guide provides links and references to a variety of sources across a range of important topics which benefit any doctor in practise. While not an exhaustive list, the guide focuses on the reoccurring themes that all too frequently form the basis of complaints received by the Medical Council.”

“The Safe Start guide has been designed to assist doctors’ integration into the Irish healthcare system. It should complement other initiatives that support doctors commencing practice including; employer induction programmes, HSE clinical practice guidance, Postgraduate Medical Training Bodies facilitation with CPD,” concluded Ms Cotter.

President of the Medical Council, Dr Rita Doyle, also discussed the importance of Safe Start supports for doctors who are new to practice in Ireland. The information contained within this guide is essential to support best practice.

Dr Doyle said: “When it comes to the patient-doctor relationship, the patient's trust in the doctor's professional conduct is an essential element.

“The information within this booklet will prove invaluable for doctors who are new to medical practice as it clearly lays out some fantastic resources and general requirements of practicing here and details how to deal with some common clinical practice scenarios that may arise.

“By supporting new and existing doctors within Irish Medicine, the Medical Council is continuing to fulfil its dual role of protecting patients and supporting doctors.” concluded Dr Doyle.

Safe Start is both an online resource and pocket size guide providing sources of valuable information, resources and guidance across a range of important topics which doctors in practise can come across on a daily basis.

Safe Start is available to download here www.medicalcouncil.ie/safestart

As the regulatory body for doctors within the Republic of Ireland, the Medical Council has a statutory role in protecting the public by promoting the highest professional standards among doctors.

The Medical Council also maintains the Register of Medical Practitioners, which is the Register doctors are legally required to be part of if they wish to practise medicine in Ireland.

The Medical Council sets standards for medical education and training in Ireland and it also oversees learning and skills development throughout doctors’ professional careers through a range of professional competence requirements. The Medical Council is also charged with promoting good medical practice and is the body where the public may make a complaint against a doctor.