National Doctors Training and Planning

Lead NCHD

The Lead NCHD initiative is a response to the historic deficit in NCHD representation at executive level in Irish hospitals / mental health services and is a means of contributing to the improvement of NCHD welfare and working conditions. This initiative is implemented by HSE – National Doctors Training & Planning (NDTP) and the HSE’s Quality Improvement Division and Clinical Director Programme. Funding for the initiative is provided by HSE – NDTP.

The role of the Lead NCHD is to provide a formal link at management level between the relevant NCHD cohort, NCHD Committee and the clinical directorate/hospital/mental health service management structure, thereby enabling a structured, continuous two-way flow of engagement and communication between management and NCHDs. The Lead NCHD role should help to integrate NCHDs within their clinical site and improve the employment experience of NCHDs. The Lead NCHD role should facilitate enhanced communication between NCHDs and hospital/mental health service management in a way that provides NCHDs, through the Lead NCHD with an opportunity to participate in discussions and decision making regarding; matters that affect NCHDs, the day-to-day running of hospitals/mental health services, and solutions/improvements to enhance patient care. For more information, contact the National Lead NCHD at nl.nchd@hse.ie.

National Flexible Training Scheme

The National Flexible Training Scheme provides for a limited number of supernumerary places to facilitate doctors to continue their training in a flexible manner for a set period of time.  Trainees must be enrolled in a BST/ST/HST Programme under the auspices of one of the postgraduate medical training bodies recognised by the Medical Council in Ireland. The scheme has now been extended and with effect from July 2017 will be open to all trainees (excluding 1st year BST).  This scheme is not recommended for final year trainees, however this is at the discretion of the relevant Training Body. 

This is a national scheme managed and funded by the Health Service Executive – National Doctors Training & Planning (NDTP). The HSE National Flexible Training Scheme funds up to 32 participants at 50% of wte at any one time. The scheme is open to junior trainees from year 2 BST training onwards. 

The funding provided covers:

  • Flexible trainee’s salary
  • Associated Employers PRSI

The scheme facilitates NCHDs in a training programme to continue their training in a flexible manner for a set period of time. The most common reasons to date for individual trainees making an application to the National Flexible Training Scheme include:

  • Responsibility for caring for others (e.g. children or elderly relatives)
  • Personal family circumstances
  • Health reasons
  • Other personal circumstances

Trainees must be enrolled in a Training Programme under the auspices of one of the postgraduate medical training bodies recognised by the Medical Council in Ireland.

The HSE National Flexible Training Scheme Guide sets out details of the National Flexible Training Scheme and provides information for trainees, training bodies and employers about the programme

Find out more about the HSE National Flexible Training Scheme Guide