Dangerous doctors being hired by HSE, judge warns

No experience: Recruitment system ‘a risk to patients’ safety’Trolley watch: Winter crisis kicks in early as 600 languishChristmas leave: Varadkar faces backlash for staff demands

Warning: Mr Justice Peter Kelly said unqualified people were being given jobs and were a ‘danger to patients’. Picture: Damien Eagers

Tim Healy, Eilish O’Regan and Kevin Doyle

People with “little knowledge of the basics of medicine” are being allowed to work in hospitals here due to “defective” recruitment in the HSE, a leading judge warned.

High Court President Mr Justice Peter Kelly warned starkly of the “obvious danger to patients” as doctors lacking basic skills are being employed.