An important clinical research project, co-led by Dr Padraic Fleming and Dr Bridget Johnston in the School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin has recently won an award. The award, which is funded through the HSE National Doctors Training and Planning (HSE NDTP) will support the research partnership to work with stakeholders in the medical workforce planning process to develop specialty specific medical workforce supply and demand projections to 2038.
This award will ensure that the Irish health workforce has sufficient trainees and graduates to meet future population needs, while also providing a continuum of support to our top research talent.
HSE NDTP Project details:
Title of Research Project
NDTP medical workforce projections collaborative partnership
Name, Title of Lead PI
Dr Padraic Fleming, Research Fellow, Centre for Health Policy and Management, School of Medicine (Public Health & Primary Care)
Co-lead – Dr Bridget Johnston, Research Assistant Professor, Centre for Health Policy and Management, School of Medicine (Public Health & Primary Care)
The medical workforce in Ireland has faced challenges over the years, not least in the area of recruitment and retention of specialists. Ireland has one of the lowest levels of medical specialists in the OECD despite having one of the highest levels of medical graduates (OECD, 2020). The National Doctors Training and Planning (NDTP) has developed specialty-based projections of the supply and demand for consultants and specialists which inform postgraduate medical education intake. NDTP wants to further develop its medical workforce planning projections to inform the realignment of the medical workforce and ensure increased consultants with the right skill mix to deliver a service based on population health needs of the future. This research will develop medical workforce supply and demand projections, with a view to informing Consultant and Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors (NCHD) and attendant training scenarios to 2038 (or later, depending on the specialty under review).
The research partnership will develop a collaboration between National Doctors Training and Planning and TCD, as its Partner, to work with stakeholders in the medical workforce planning process to develop specialty specific medical workforce supply and demand projections to 2038. A gap analysis of supply and demand will inform the future medical skill mix across the consultant and NCHD workforce. Priority medical specialities will be included in this programme of work. It is anticipated that the programme of work will run over 24 months to allow for the development of projections and gap analysis as well associated recommendations. The intention is to ensure that the Irish health workforce has sufficient trainees and graduates to meet future population needs, while also working towards a level of sustainability that is in line the WHO global code of practice. Publication of findings will be produced in both report and academic peer review format.
Speaking about the award, Dr Ward said:
“This partnership allows the Centre of Health Policy and Management to inform and influence resource planning in line with Sláintecare”.