The HSE has launched a new recruitment campaign aimed at attracting consultant doctors to work in the Irish health service.

The campaign, which is targeting consultants both in Ireland and abroad, “showcases the benefits of the new public consultant contract, which carries an attractive salary and a range of training benefits”, the HSE said.

According to its national director of HR, Anne Marie Hoey, the campaign will specifically focus on the recruitment of consultants for hospital and community services.

“We hope to fill over 400 vacancies this year. We’ll be targeting people working in Ireland and internationally, both those who trained in Ireland and new talent from international locations.

“We want to develop awareness of the variety of consultant posts available in Ireland and make eligible clinicians aware that the new, generously remunerated consultant contract is live. Posts are available now in a range of specialties,” Ms Hoey commented.

She noted that there is a global shortage of healthcare workers at the moment, making this a “fiercely competitive market”.

“As a result, many international health systems around the world are seeking to address this shortage by recruiting from abroad, including the HSE. Our new campaign will commence in the UK and Australia across print media, social media and digital media. International campaigns will take place initially across the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada,” she explained.

Commenting on the campaign, the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, said that the new consultant contract “is central to our drive towards universal healthcare and delivering for our growing and ageing population the health services they need”.

“I am confident that specialist doctors throughout the world, both those trained in Ireland and elsewhere, will see the benefits of this new contract and grasp the opportunity it presents,” Minister Donnelly added.

Vacancies can be viewed here.