Consultancy on Public Health Physicians

Tender description

In July 2013, a Working Group was established to carry out a strategic review of medical training and career structure. The Group’s final report addresses issues relating to strategic medical workforce planning, and career planning and mentoring supports for trainee doctors. It made the following recommendation in relation to public health medicine: In the context of Action 46 of Future Health, Healthy Ireland and emerging service developments, as well as national and regional demand for public health expertise, the Group recommended the establishment of a working group to examine matters including the following and make recommendations as appropriate: • the current and future role of the public health specialist in Ireland, including the appropriate skill mix in relation to public health functions; • the attractiveness of public health medicine as a career option; • the curriculum and content of the specialist training scheme, and associated administrative arrangements relating to the rotation of trainees around the system; • any requirement for post-CSCST sub-specialisation; • the replacement rates required to fill existing public health specialist posts in order to ensure the viability of the specialist training scheme and any expansion that may be required to plan for future service developments; • measures to enhance the awareness of public health medicine as a career option at undergraduate level and during the Intern year. The recommendations are to be progressed through a consultancy, the appointment of an appropriate firm/individual(s) with stakeholder credibility , insight and capacity, supported where necessary by an expert reference panel, to prepare a report in accordance with the attached terms of reference that reflect the recommendations of the Group. A steering group will oversee the process.