A review of health worker migration: Investigating which solution best encourages junior doctors to stay in the Irish healthcare system. A case study of Beaumont Hospital

Health worker migration is a major concern globally and for the Irish healthcare system. The steady migration of Irish doctors continues due to the current working conditions, poor training, lack of career paths etc; and the lack of retention initiatives being implemented. Therefore, the objective of this study is to investigate which solution(s) will encourage junior doctors to stay in the Irish healthcare system and if this solution impacts on the overall decision of junior doctors to stay in Ireland. This study examines global health worker migration and its effects on the Irish healthcare system. Concepts relating to employee retention and the relevant motivational theories are discussed along with the concerns within the Irish healthcare system that are currently enhancing the migration of junior doctors, all of which gave rise to the development of the proposed solutions within this study. This mixed-method study used convenience sampling to get responses from junior doctors from one Irish hospital, Beaumont Hospital. A survey was distributed online and hardcopy using a four-point Likert scale from which junior doctors’ interest was rated off, free text qualitative comment boxes, open ended and close ended questions were also used. Statistical Package for Social sciences (SPSS) analysed the quantitative data and qualitative themes were identified. The result of this study revealed that ‘A guarantee of a consultant post in Ireland’ was identified as being the solution that best encourages junior doctors to stay in the Irish healthcare system, although it has no statistical significance in the overall junior doctors’ decision to stay in Ireland. A qualitative theme of career progression accompanied it of which management must recognise and satisfy to encourage junior doctor retention in Ireland