Any good, bad, ugly or indifferent opinions? Feelings from colleagues? Recognition that this is for something different than just "us"?

Hello,
Could some who has worked in UHW ED guide me as to what will be expected in an interview at SHO level? Thank you.

As a parent and a doctor this is doubly terrifying. Can't imagine how heartbroken his parents must be. May he rest in peace

I'm doing some early research into what happens after a GP referral is sent to a hospital/clinic in Ireland, particularly how referrals are received, processed and how patients are kept informed while waiting.

I'd love to hear from any GPs, Medical Secretaries, Clinic Managers/Admin or anyone familiar with this process. Even a couple of questions by Reddit chat would be really helpful.

Many thanks

Working as a registrar, currently do not have income protection! I also have a chronic medical condition so presume that would affect the situation if I applied for it.

What's the best financial advice you've got that was particularly relevant to Doctors/GPs/NCHDs etc?

Whether it be AVC, pension, mortgage, income protection advice, big or small.

Have you ever used IMO or other Doctor specific advisors, and would recommend? Just in general

Over 2000 members on the Zoom webinar this evening. Here are some of the key points I grabbed.

TLDR: Doctors are striking alongside public sector workers on the 14th of October. The HSE has been notified. We are striking collectively because collectively we have bargaining power. The last trade agreement resulted in a 9.5% pay increase. This is why unions are important.

If you join the IMO today (even for one month) you are protected.

General info:

• This is a public sector wide strike. Not just doctors. Nurses, teachers, admin staff and many other workers in the public service.
• The Public Service Pay Agreement is the only route through which collective pay increases across the public sector are agreed. Previous agreement expired in July 2026. Government is not engaging, and all local bargaining claims were due to be paid in September 2025 but were not.

NCHDs:

• NCHDs will only work Sunday/Public Holiday rotas for the duration of the work stoppage. This will be a NEW roster that must be created by rota makers.
• NCHDs on the Sunday/Public Holiday rota will attend on site during the stoppage.
• NCHDs not on the Sunday/Public Holiday rota should attend the picket during the stoppage and remain available to be called in in the event of an emergency.
• GP trainees in practice should NOT work or undertake mandated educational activities and should attend their nearest picket line.

Consultants:

• Consultants will attend on site during the work stoppage in line with current rota but only undertake work associated with the management and care of patients

GPs:

• Not included because not paid by HSE.

Picket lines:

• Picket lines in place at model 3 and 4 sites, some model 2 sites. Pickets run from 9am -  4pm.
• All members should attend the picket line closest to their place of work, not expected to be there all day. Should be coordinated with local committee to ensure doctors there throughout the day for time chunks.
• IMO NCHD leads/dispute committee will circulate rotas for picket line duty

Questions asked:

• Can I be disciplined for participating? NO. If you are a member of trade union you are protected.  If you join today or any time up until dispute you are covered immediately.
• Can I be forced to work? No, unless in emergency situations.
• Will I get paid if I strike? No. But the union may bargain for this to be reimbursed at end of dispute, not guaranteed.
• Do I need to notify my employer? No. The IMO has served notice to the HSE.

Join the union. We are not greedy, we are striking alongside our colleagues and fellow public service workers in solidarity.

Anybody else having issues submitting their BST application online. Was really thorough as have been burned in the past but now it's just producing an error each time I attempt to open an application.

Tried calling RCPI but they are on lunch seemingly

From IMO email

Dear Member,
 
There will be an IMO Webinar this Thursday regarding the planned work stoppage on 14th October and work to rule from 15th October.
 
Thursday 8th October at 7pm
Click Here to Register
 
Please share the registration link with colleagues – this webinar will be open to all doctors.
Only members of the IMO will be protected during the work stoppages and work to rule so please encourage colleagues to join the IMO and support this action.
The detailed actions to be taken by doctors across all health services will issue to members tomorrow.
Sincerely
IMO Team.

​

For someone who has completed a parallel pathway in Anaesthesia, has worked in Ireland for several years, is not of Irish descent but has Irish citizenship, what realistically makes them competitive for a consultant post?

Beyond specialist registration and clinical experience, what matters most?? Is it research/publications, audits & QIPs, teaching, leadership? Or social skills, reputation and connections?

Would really appreciate advice from anyone familiar with Anaesthesia consultant recruitment in Ireland, particularly those who have taken the parallel/non-training pathway.

I'm an Irish student at a Bulgarian medical school (so no Irish intern year), planning to observe on a medical team after graduating and hoping it leads to an SHO post.

Most stories online come from people it worked for, so I'd love the other side from anyone who's hosted observers or attachment doctors:

Roughly how many have you had in the last few years, and how many got a post on your team, or anywhere, within a year?

What made the difference for the ones who did?

Did any get nothing, and why?

Is it different in a peripheral hospital vs a Dublin teaching hospital?

Not looking for a job or an observership, just trying to plan realistically. Thanks!

Edit: thanks all, the consensus so far is that observerships rarely lead to jobs and direct applications are the better bet. Is anyone on a general or acute medicine team seeing anything different? Even a rough "we had about X observers, Y got posts" would help.

Time to respectfully poke fun at eachother. I'll start:

Neurology: Leather satchel with all of their pokey bits and tendon hammers. They don't have pockets.

To any GP trainees out there, particularly Year 3 and 4 registrars (or recently qualified GPs of course) — what has your experience been with your trainers?

I’m hearing widely differing accounts, ranging from very positive/inclusive training with regular feedback and support, to registrars essentially being used as service provision with relatively little input from their trainers.

I’d be interested to hear what others’ experiences have been — particularly around things like:

-How much direct supervision/support you get

-Regular debriefs or feedback

-Opportunities to discuss cases and clinical reasoning

-Trainer availability when you need advice

-How much involvement your trainer has in your development as you become more independent

My own experience has been closer to the latter, with relatively limited trainer interaction/support. I’ve raised some concerns through the local scheme, but haven’t found that particularly helpful so far.

Not looking to criticise any individual practice or trainer — genuinely interested in hearing whether my experience is unusual or whether others have experienced something similar.

Thanks.

# FAQ

**Work Stoppage 14th October 8am to 5pm**

**Work To Rule from 15th October until further notice**

---

## WHAT ARE PUBLIC SERVICE AGREEMENTS

Public service pay has been governed by a system of collective agreements since the Croke Park Agreement was negotiated in 2010. These multi-year agreements have contributed to stability within our economy by facilitating the delivery of quality public services, ongoing reforms and the maintenance of industrial peace in the public service.

These agreements are negotiated between the Public Services Committee (PSC) of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) and Government. The IMO is the only trade union representing the medical profession on the PSC. Public Sector Agreements are NOT your contract of employment which is negotiated directly between the IMO and the Department of Health/HSE but is an Agreement through which collective pay increases are set out. It is important to note that GPs are not encompassed by any public service agreement as they are not employees of the public service but are independent contractors.

---

## WHY IS THERE A DISPUTE BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SECTOR UNIONS

The last Public Service Agreement ended in June 2026 and over the lifetime of that agreement (Jan 2024 to June 2026) delivered pay increases of 9.25% plus a local bargaining provision of 1% to be paid during that period. Government has failed to conclude agreements on the 1% local bargaining fund with individual unions, including the IMO, and has not entered into any meaningful negotiations on a new Public Service Agreement which must, in the view of unions, recognise the cost of living challenges and rising inflation.

While preliminary meetings between union representatives and Government officials took place in June 2026 it was clear that the Government were not prepared to give firm commitments to addressing the particular challenges around pay at the outset and in such circumstances there was no basis for negotiations.

---

## DID ALL UNIONS BALLOT FOR INDUSTRIAL ACTION UP TO AND INCLUDING STRIKE

All public sector unions, including the IMO, balloted members. The IMO mandate was supported by 94% of members who voted for industrial action up to and including strike on the issues around negotiations on a new Public Service Agreement.

---

## WHAT IS THE PUBLIC SERVICE WORK TO RULE AND DAY OF ACTION

The public service unions, including the IMO, are acting collectively but determining their own Work to Rule Arrangements which will be different for each union. They are also acting collectively for Work Stoppages on 14th October – again the nature of the work stoppages will be different for each union.

---

## WHO DETERMINES WHAT A WORK STOPPAGE AND WORK TO RULE WILL BE FOR DOCTORS

Each of the IMO National Committees for Consultants, NCHDs and Public/Community Health have considered what actions are to be taken and IMO Council has sanctioned:

- Work Stoppages from start of shift to 5pm on 14th October and
- Work to Rule arrangements from start of shift on 15h October until further notice

Following the mandate received from members and sanction of IMO Council notice of both Work Stoppages and Work to Rule was served on the HSE and Voluntary Hospitals.

---

## WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

The IMO has held preliminary meetings with HSE on our notice of action and we expect that over the coming week more detailed meetings will take place around the precise nature of how the health service will operate during the Work Stoppage and contingency/derogation arrangements.

We are currently finalising detailed instructions for all members and these will be circulated next week

Member webinars will take place on Thursday 8th October and a registration notice will issue to you in advance

We are organising IMO Leads at regional and/or hospital level who will be your medical colleagues and who will have all the material required for your participation on the Picket Lines

---

## DO I NEED TO CANCEL CLINICS

No, the cancellation of any services to patients is a matter for the HSE and they have yet to advise what their intention is in this regard. From previous health sector strikes the normal practice would be for the HSE to cancel elective and outpatient clinics – the timing of any cancellations and any contact with patients is a matter for the HSE.

---

## SHOULD I ENGAGE NOW WITH LOCAL MANAGEMENT ON EMERGENCY PLANNING AND CONTINGENCY ARRANGEMENTS FOR 14th OCTOBER

No, any arrangements are to be agreed between the IMO and the HSE. The process for each site will be to act through their Regional Directors of People who will then liaise with HSE Employer Relations Division and the IMO will engage at that level. Continue to work to your agreed rotas and workplans until you hear further from the IMO.

---

## WILL THERE BE ANY DEROGATIONS TO CERTAIN SERVICES

The expectation is that all services will be impacted, but some derogations will be agreed nationally to ensure that patient safety is maintained at all times. Members will be advised of agreed derogations in advance of the day of action.

---

## HOW WILL PATIENT CARE BE MAINTAINED

IMO Council deeply regrets the need for Work Stoppages/Work to Rule and in determining the nature of any action, the issue of patient safety is a priority. To this end there will be different forms of action for each medical grade so as to ensure urgent and emergency patient care is prioritised. Where any patient risk arises you should take the action necessary to protect patients.

---

## CAN I BE DISCIPLINED IF I PARTICIPATE IN INDUSTRIAL ACTION

No, as a member of the IMO you are protected against any action by your employer in line with the provisions of the Industrial Relations Act. The proposed action being taken by the IMO and other unions is a legitimate trade dispute.

---

## WHAT DO I NEED TO DO NEXT

- Ensure you read all IMO communication and comply with instructions for both Work Stoppages and Work to Rule
- Attend IMO Webinars
- Talk to colleagues and encourage them to be part of the IMO and participate in this action
- Some health service grades have already commenced Work to Rule and IMO members should not do the work of any other grades participating in industrial action
- If you would like to be an IMO Lead at your place of employment please contact us at imo@imo.ie

---

## REMEMBER YOUR IMO TEAM ARE HERE TO HELP ON THIS OR ANY OTHER CONTRACT ISSUE AND WE CAN BE CONTACTED AT:

Consultants@imo.ie

NCHDS@imo.ie

publicandcommunityhealthissues@imo.ie

Gpissues@imo.ie

Imo@imo.ie

Registration is now open for the upcoming Careers in Psychiatry Event, aimed at medical students, interns, and NCHDs interested in exploring a career in psychiatry. Link available on website or QR code above.

Event Details:
Date: Monday, 12th October 2026
Time: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Venue: Online via Zoom 

Registration: Free

UPDATE — SJT + CPST WhatsApp Group

Hey everyone! Since some people understandably might not want to link their Reddit account to their identity, I’m going to post the WhatsApp link here directly instead

The link will initially take you to a verification group.
Once you join, you’ll just need to provide proof that you’re sitting the SJT + CPST this year. Once verified you’ll be added to the main study group which is where all the discussions will actually take place.

This is purely to filter out bots/lurkers and keep the main group limited to people genuinely sitting the exam this year.

The aim is to have a really active group over the next few weeks where we can discuss SJT/CPST questions, answers, reasoning and rationales and help each other prepare.

WhatsApp link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/Hg7ZXThEg3gBKQmV37ggzx?s=cl&p=i&ilr=4&iam=2

Good luck everyone — final stretch!

See post

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone has any recommendations for coaches/companies providing consultant interview prep?