Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Assisting and Caring for Others Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Documenting/Recording Information Entering, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Analysing Data or Information Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

The Work

Following internship, many doctors undertake postgraduate training with a view to becoming specialists in areas of medical practice which appeal to them.

Gastroenterologists study diseases involving the digestive tract, liver and pancreas, which include chronic inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune conditions involving the liver and pancreas, functional bowel disorders, coeliac disease, dysmotility disorders, GastroIntestinal (GI) cancers and many more.

As well as the theory behind GI disease, Gastroenterologists perform procedures ranging from basic diagnostic endoscopies including gastroscopies and colonoscopies to both diagnostic and therapeutic procedures including Enodscopic ultrasound, ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatopgraphy), double balloon enteroscopy and more advance interventional luminal endoscopy.

Within the specialty of Gastroenterology there are several sub-specialisations e.g. Hepatology (viral Hepatology, transplant Hepatology), luminal Gastroenterology, functional disease, interventional endoscopy and pancreaticobiliary medicine with significant opportunity for research.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Analyse records, reports, test results, or examination information to diagnose medical condition of patient.
• Treat internal disorders, such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, or problems of the lung, brain, kidney, or gastrointestinal tract.
• Prescribe or administer medication, therapy, and other specialised medical care to treat or prevent illness, disease, or injury.
• Manage and treat common health problems, such as infections, influensa or pneumonia, as well as serious, chronic, and complex illnesses, in adolescents, adults, and the elderly.
• Provide and manage long-term, comprehensive medical care, including diagnosis and nonsurgical treatment of diseases, for adult patients in an office or hospital.
• Explain procedures and discuss test results or prescribed treatments with patients.
• Advise patients and community members concerning diet, activity, hygiene, and disease prevention.
• Make diagnoses when different illnesses occur together or in situations where the diagnosis may be obscure.
• Refer patient to medical specialist or other practitioner when necessary.
• Monitor patients' conditions and progress and reevaluate treatments as necessary.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

Investigative

The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.

Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

To become a Gastroenterologist, you must first qualify as a medical Doctor by taking a six-year degree programme in Medicine.

There are six medical schools in Ireland: Trinity College Dublin Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland University College Dublin (UCD) National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway University of Limerick (Graduate entry only) University College Cork (UCC).

The four steps in the training pathway to become a specialist in Gastroenterology are as follows:

Step 1 – Medical School

Step 2 – Intern Year

Step 3 – Basic Specialty Training in Medicine

Step 4 – Higher Specialty Training in Gasteroenterology

Following basic specialty training doctors may choose to continue training at higher specialist training level. Doctors must decide the specialty they wish to pursue, specialty of Gastroenterology.

Entry Requirements

Applicants for Higher Specialist Training (HST) in Gastroenterology must have completed a minimum of two years Basic Specialist Training.

The Higher Specialist Training Programme in Gastroenterology is run by the ICHMT, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €62k - €160k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role.

Data Source(s):
HSE/ Salary Expert/ Indeed/ Glassdoor

Last Updated: August, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

The annual average employment growth for medical practitioners was slightly above average over the five-year period, with strong growth between 2021 and 2022. Almost 30% of those employed in this occupation were non-Irish citizens, with employment permits still acting as a source of supply of skills; over 2,100 new permits were issued in 2022 across a range of specialities. Supply from the third level education system is set to expand by 200 additional places by 2026 (beginning with an increase of 60 places each in 2022 and 2023). Given the duration of medical training, however, this increased supply is not expected to have an impact on the labour market in the short-to-medium term.

Issues in relation to GPs are being addressed with an announcement that the number of GP training places will be increased to 350 in 2024 from 258 in 2022 and an expansion of the non-EU GP Training Scheme from 50 to 250 by the end of 2024.43 However, the increasing demand for medical practitioners as a result of factors such as the rollout of the Sláintecare Action Plan, the ageing population and the tackling of the lengthy waiting lists (exacerbated as a result of COVID-19) will result in continued shortages for this occupation.

• Royal College of Physicians of Ireland

  • Frederick House, 19 South Federick Street Dublin 2
  • (01) 8639700
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Irish Medical Council

  • Kingram House, Kingram Place, Dublin, 2
  • (01) 498 3100
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• IICMP Irish Institute of Clinical Measurement Physiology

  • [email protected]
  • Click Here