The HSE plans to cut one-third of newly-qualified doctors at Mayo University Hospital in July.

That’s according to the Keep Our Doctors Campaign group and this would equate to a reduction of five intern doctors from sixteen to eleven at the facility.

The situation is mirrored across all regional hospitals and means the vast majority of the international graduating doctors will be forced to leave the country in search of work.

Eoin Downes is a final year medical student at UCD and he is considering applying for an internship in Mayo.

He told Midwest News that the cost of hiring 300 doctors would likely be less than current overtime payments.