HSE to reform recruitment process for hospital doctors

The HSE hopes to establish a standardised policy to deal with references and Garda and medical registration checks prior to the appointment of non-consultant hospital doctors by May.

An electronic personnel file system for medical interns will also be rolled out for all other non-consultant hospital doctors this year.

The move follows controversy over a doctor employed in four hospitals despite concerns about his performance.

Confidential document

A confidential document submitted to the Minister for Health following the case of Dr Omar Hassan Khalafalla Mohamed identified flaws in recruitment procedures.

He was found guilty in January by a Medical Council fitness-to-practise inquiry of 28 counts of poor performance and six counts of professional misconduct. Dr Hassan rejected the findings.