Dear colleagues,

I’m proud to share the First National Census of Clinical Measurement Physiologists in Ireland, published today by the IICMP.

For the first time in the history of our profession, we have a full national picture. The figure most often quoted until now was around 450, based on public sector whole time equivalent data only. The census reports 978 qualified Clinical Measurement Physiologists across Cardiac, Gastrointestinal, Neurophysiology, Respiratory and Vascular Physiology. We are a large and significant workforce within the Irish health system, and a far larger one than has been recognised.

I know this report lands at a difficult time. Many of you are working in stretched departments, under real pressure, and with a growing sense that the value of what you do hasn’t been understood or protected. Those concerns are legitimate, and they run through this report: physiologists working at clinical specialist and advanced practice levels without the grading or pay to match, limited career progression, and too many people feeling undervalued in their role.

We will be sharing these findings with the Minister for Health and the Department of Health in due course, to support the case for statutory regulation, an accredited national register, investment in education and training, and career structures that reflect your expertise. We’ll keep you updated.

Your expertise matters to patient care and to the health system, and we’ll continue to make that case at every level. We’re grateful for your continued support as we do.

The report is free to download:
IICMP First National Census of Clinical Measurement Physiologists in Ireland

Thank you to everyone who contributed.

Regards,

Karen Dobbyn, CEO, IICMP