A Christmas Message from Professor Ronan O'Connell, RCSI President
Dear Trainee,
Many of you will have received my recent letter to Fellows and Members, however I felt the need to write individually to all RCSI trainees on CST and HST programmes to thank you for your outstanding contribution to the Heath Service over the past year and to assure you the RCSI will do everything possible to ensure that each of you will progress to the next year of your training unimpeded by the restrictions of COVID-19.
Since the outbreak of the pandemic, RCSI has consistently advocated the importance of training with the Department of Health and the HSE, however the reality has always been that urgent need will always supersede the needs of scheduled care. RCSI is very aware of the reduced training opportunities occasioned by COVID-19.We will continue to work through the Clinical Programmes, the Irish Forum of Post-Graduate Training Bodies, the specialty SACs, JCST and JSCM (Joint Surgical Colleges Meeting) to ensure training progression.
It is important to realise that your personal health and safety must be assured. You will all have experienced frustration, exasperation and powerlessness in advocating for your patients’ interests. You will also have had to deal with the emotions and desperation of patients and their relatives and their fears that serious illness will go undiagnosed or treatment delays will have adverse outcomes. These concerns are valid and deserve your attention and respect. Yet, these are extraordinary times that have brutally exposed shortcomings in health services not just in Ireland. Resilience lies with collegiality. Support your colleagues and we in RCSI will do our very best to support you – it is after all your College.
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