MORE THAN 80 Irish doctors have returned home from Australia to lend their services to the fight against coronavirus in Ireland.
The doctors are required to self-isolate for the next 14 days but will provide vital reinforcement to Ireland’s under-pressure health service in the weeks that follow.
They join the 121 new doctors who have already joined the register of medical practitioners.
The doctors were inspired to return from Australia after hearing about the HSE’s “Be On Call For Ireland” campaign encouraging overseas healthcare workers to return to the country.
It also offered them the chance to be closer to their families back home during these uncertain times with tight travel restrictions likely to be in place over the coming months.
Doctors from cities like Sydney and Perth have been busy packing up and shipping out over the past few days.
It’s proven an onerous task with flats vacated, cars sold and property given away to local charity shops ahead of their departure.
Their efforts have not been in vain though and were assisted greatly by the efforts of the Department of Foreign Affairs along with several airlines and the two countries’ embassies.
More than 80 Irish doctors are returning home from Australia to join Ireland's fight against Covid-19 | Read more: https://t.co/rQLdpuBm8j pic.twitter.com/ZoPM9uqAVB
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) March 26, 2020
Speaking to RTE, Dr Zoë Lynch thanked all those who assisted in bringing this brave band of doctors and medics home to help tackle the pandemic.
"We want to thank Qantas, Aer Lingus, the Department, the embassy, and every Irish person who helped get us home," she said.
The response from overseas doctors has been matched by the number of healthcare staff coming out of retirement to assist in the efforts against coronavirus.
Returning staff from overseas are now being told to begin the process of registering so they will be ready to hit the ground running as soon as possible.
With a further 1,000 new interns also registering to help, Ireland’s preparations for the oncoming rise in coronavirus cases is gathering pace.
See More: Coronavirus, Covid-19, Irish Doctors
