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Human Resources for Health
Published in: Human Resources for Health 1/2019

Open Access 01-12-2019 | Research

Tracking the leavers: towards a better understanding of doctor migration from Ireland to Australia 2008–2018

Authors: Niamh Humphries, John Connell, Joel Negin, James Buchan

Published in: Human Resources for Health | Issue 1/2019

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Abstract

Background

The recession of 2008 triggered large-scale emigration from Ireland. Australia emerged as a popular destination for Irish emigrants and for Irish-trained doctors. This paper illustrates the impact that such an external shock can have on the medical workforce and demonstrates how cross-national data sharing can assist the source country to better understand doctor emigration trends.

Method

This study draws on Australian immigration, registration and census data to highlight doctor migration flows from Ireland to Australia, 2008–2018.

Findings

General population migration from Ireland to Australia increased following the 2008 recession, peaked between 2011 and 2013 before returning to pre-2008 levels by 2014, in line with the general economic recovery in Ireland. Doctor emigration from Ireland to Australia did not follow the same pattern, but rather increased in 2008 and increased year on year since 2014. In 2018, 326 Irish doctors obtained working visas for Australia. That doctor migration is out of sync with general economic conditions in Ireland and with wider migration patterns indicates that it is influenced by factors other than evolving economic conditions in Ireland, perhaps factors relating to the health system.

Discussion

Doctor emigration from Ireland to Australia has not decreased in line with improved economic conditions in Ireland, indicating that other factors are driving and sustaining doctor emigration. This paper considers some of these factors. Largescale doctor emigration has significant implications for the Irish health system; representing a brain drain of talent, generating a need for replacement migration and a high dependence on internationally trained doctors. This paper illustrates how source countries, such as Ireland, can use destination country data to inform an evidence-based policy response to doctor emigration.
Footnotes
1
When referring to Irish-trained doctors or doctors trained in Ireland within this paper, the authors refer to doctors who are Irish/EU passport holders who obtained their basic medical qualification in Ireland. Ireland also trains a significant number of doctors from non-EU countries, but the presumption has been that these doctors do not remain on to work in the Irish health system. In fact they face barriers (e.g. access to internship) if attempting to remain to practice medicine in Ireland following graduation.
 
2
The HSE provided nationality data for a sample of its medical workforce, which indicated that 84% of its consultants and just over 50% of its junior hospital doctors in 2017 were Irish 12. Public Service Pay Commission, Report of the Public Service Pay Commission. Recruitment and Retention Module 1. 2018, Public Service Pay Commission Dublin.
 
3
Brexit may see Irish-trained doctors returning from the UK to Ireland, opting to migrate to Australia, rather than to the UK; or perhaps the UK will actively recruit Irish trained doctors, if the UK and Ireland retain a Common Travel Area post-BREXIT.
 
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Metadata
Title
Tracking the leavers: towards a better understanding of doctor migration from Ireland to Australia 2008–2018
Authors
Niamh Humphries
John Connell
Joel Negin
James Buchan
Publication date
01-12-2019
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Human Resources for Health / Issue 1/2019
Electronic ISSN: 1478-4491
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-019-0365-5

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