Survey highlights training needs of Senior Medical Officers in Public Health
A new report from the Faculty of Public Health Medicine at the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) and the Health Service Executive (HSE) highlights the training and educational needs of Senior Medical Officers (SMOs) working within Ireland's public health sector.
The SMO Training Needs Survey, conducted in late 2024, emphasises the evolving role of SMOs amid ongoing public health reforms and proposes actionable recommendations aimed at developing an agile and versatile SMO workforce. These recommendations are designed to equip SMOs with the skills necessary to adapt to new roles and meet the changing demands of public health.
The survey, commissioned by the HSE's National Office of Public Health, aimed to assess current training and educational gaps among SMOs working within the specialty of public health in the HSE. It focused on understanding how the SMO workforce can be better prepared to meet the demands of a rapidly changing public health landscape, including the implementation of Sláintecare and the integration of multidisciplinary teams in public health delivery.
Among the survey’s findings, a significant number of SMOs indicated a need for further training in areas such as health data analysis, service integration, leadership skills, and understanding emerging public health models. These gaps in training must be addressed to ensure SMOs can effectively manage the increasingly complex challenges within public health.
Key Recommendations
To tackle these identified training needs and align SMOs’ roles with public health reform, the report outlines eight key recommendations:
- Review of SMO role and structure
The HSE National Director of Public Health should convene a working group to assess the evolving role of the SMO, particularly in light of the implementation of Sláintecare and the development of multidisciplinary public health teams.
- Formal recognition of diverse roles
The current job description for SMOs should formally recognise the wide-ranging work many SMOs undertake. This diversity of work should be formally recorded and shared with all SMOs and their line managers to inform work planning and performance reviews.
- Performance achievement integration
Regular performance achievement meetings should become an integral part of the SMO role to ensure that training, career development, and professional goals are met. HSE Public Health Human Resources (HR) should ensure line managers hold at least one performance achievement meeting with each SMO annually and conduct regular audits for compliance.
- Comprehensive training and education directory
A centralised directory of relevant courses, conferences, and training opportunities should be developed in collaboration with the National Director of Public Health and the Faculty of Public Health Medicine (FPHM), to ensure SMOs have access to ongoing professional development.
- Continued engagement with scientific programmes
The report encourages continued engagement of SMOs in the scientific programmes of the FPHM. Including an SMO representative in the FPHM’s Meetings Committee would ensure their input into relevant content for professional development.
- Expand educational offerings
The FPHM should partner with universities to create a working group that explores relevant master's and micro-credential courses aimed at improving public health training. The goal would be to provide additional educational pathways for SMOs seeking further specialisation.
- Promotion of MFPHMI Membership
Many SMOs already hold a master's in public health or its equivalent. The Faculty of Public Health Medicine (FPHM) should work to promote the Membership of the Faculty of Public Health Medicine (MFPHMI) exam to SMOs and highlight the benefits of diplomate membership as an avenue for professional growth.
- Support for Higher Specialist Training (HST)
The HST programme remains open to suitably qualified medical practitioners. SMOs should be encouraged to pursue the public health medicine HST to gain advanced skills in public health practice.
These recommendations offer a clear roadmap for strengthening the role of SMOs in public health and ensuring they are equipped to contribute effectively to Ireland’s evolving healthcare system.
View the full report | PDF, 519KB