The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic upon the non-Irish junior doctor workforce: An investigation into the situation in Ireland

Lutter, Friederike (2022) The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic upon the non-Irish junior doctor workforce: An investigation into the situation in Ireland. Masters thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.

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Abstract

Working conditions affect staff well-being and workforce retention. This paper will analyse how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted foreign trained junior hospital doctors’ working conditions and career plans. Foreign trained junior doctors are a pillar of the Irish health service. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant transformations to the work environments of all hospital doctors. While there has been research on Irish doctor’s experience of the pandemic, there is less focus on foreign trained junior doctors. A qualitative research design used a mix of snowball sampling and self-selection sampling of 10 non-EU trained junior doctors that have worked through the pandemic in an Irish public hospital. Interviews were conducted mostly via MS teams and one in person. Thematic analysis was used for this research. Isolation, accurate staffing levels, the ability to take annual and educational leave and work-life balance were raised during the interviews. Another important point raised was career progression. While the first wave of the pandemic brought a sense of collegiality among junior doctors, now post covid fatigue has drained the workforce. However, changes in legislation that allow foreign trained doctors entry into training schemes, as well as changes in work permit procedures and the ability to gain stamp 4 visas after working in Ireland for two years are favourable for career progression. Foreign doctors are still keen to work in Ireland after the pandemic, some for better training to eventually return to their home country and some to settle for good. The pandemic had no moderating effects on the plan to stay in Ireland. However, the clear focus is to get a place on a training scheme to become a consultant and not work in a standalone post. Non-Irish doctors expressed they are willing to leave Ireland to achieve this goal.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Subjects:	R Medicine > Healthcare Industry H Social Sciences > HT Communities. Classes. Races > Immigrant Communities D History General and Old World > DA Great Britain > Ireland H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > Issues of Labour and Work H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > Issues of Labour and Work > Quality of Work Life / Job Satisfaction
Divisions:	School of Business > Master of Arts in Human Resource Management
Depositing User:	Clara Chan
Date Deposited:	19 Nov 2022 12:51
Last Modified:	19 Nov 2022 12:51
URI:	https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/5889

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