Government Urged To Assist Shannondoc By Reviewing Doctors’ Visa Regulations

The government is again being asked to urgently review the terms of visas issued to non-EU locum doctors working in Ireland.

Atypical Working Scheme Permits allow medics from outside the EU to work in Ireland, and many GPs have been employed in out of hours services such as Shannondoc.

However, the permits’ terms mean that while they can work here for up to 90 days, they then effictively have to return home for 60 days before they can return.

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Shannondoc have argued that the scheme has become “the biggest block” to recruiting overseas doctors to fill red-eye shifts, and have had to curtail their night-time service in Miltown Malbay at times in recent months.

Lahinch Fianna Fáil Councillor Shane Talty says this needs to be changed.