Special Circumstances
Maternity Leave: Credits While Absent
Q. I'm going on maternity leave, do I need to get the 50 credits? » read more
Q. I am retired, don’t intend to practise medicine anymore and plan to withdraw from the register. What does this mean for me?
A. If you withdraw your name from the register voluntarily, you can retain the title of "Dr", engage in college or mentoring activities and be able to administer emergency aid in the event of an accident. » read more
Q. I don’t see patients as part of my work. How can I fulfil professional competence requirements, especially clinical audit?
A. Not all doctors see patients. Doctors work in health and clinical service policy development and oversight roles, clinical leadership and management roles, medical advisory roles, medico-legal roles, education and training roles, and many more. » read more
Q. I work across a number of different roles.
A. There are no special requirements for doctors occupying several roles simultaneously. Once registered, a doctor has the right to practise medicine. From the public perspective, the responsibility to maintain professional competence must apply to all doctors, regardless of their working arrangements. » read more
Q. I work on a part-time or occasional basis.
A. There are no special requirements for doctors working less than full-time, or on an occasional basis. » read more
Q. If a RMP is registered on the scheme and then leaves Ireland for a period what provisions will be made for them to re-enter the scheme?
A. If doctors leave Ireland for a short period of time (a year or less) to practice overseas then they should enrol in a professional competence scheme as operated by the PGTBs. A short break will be easy to accommodate by continuing to engage in the maintenance of professional competence activities while practising overseas. Any deficit can be made up on return to practice in Ireland. » read more
Q. If a doctor is on the specialist register but in fully academic work can s/he fulfil the PC requirements or will s/he be required to undertake a given minimum of patient contact/clinical work?
A. The underlying principles are that an individual medical practitioners PCS activities should be planned and should reflect and be relevant to his or her current and future profile of professional practice and performance. » read more
Q. What if I am retired? Am I required to engage in PCS? Can I retain my name on the register?
A. All retired doctors who remain registered with the Medical Council and thus retain the right to practice medicine have a legal obligation to maintain competence. » read more
Q. What will the requirements be for a retired doctor who does occasional sessions in general practice?
A. A doctor engaged in any form of general medical practice will have to comply fully with PCS requirements appropriate to their area of practice. All retired doctors who remain registered with the Medical Council and thus retain the right to practice medicine have a legal obligation to maintain competence. » read more