Mater Misericordiae University Hospital

Dublin/Mid-Leinster · Eccles Street, Phibsborough, Dublin 7

voluntary hospitalModel 4

On-call: what to expect

Rota
Mixed
Nights per rotation
7
Busy-ness
5/10

1 quiet · 10 relentless

The rota

On-call cover is split into a day and night team, with 5 interns covering the day shift until 20:00.

Each rotation includes 2 blocks of night shifts.

These are either Sunday to Wednesday (4 consecutive nights), with 4 days off (Monday to Thursday) beforehand and a return to work the following Monday, or Thursday to Saturday (3 consecutive nights), with 3 days off (Monday to Wednesday) beforehand and again returning Monday.

Workload & stress

Overall, the on-call workload is generally more manageable than expected, especially if you’re good at keeping on top of your jobs.

Support on call

On-call cover is split into a day and night team, with 5 interns covering the day shift until 20:00.

Overnight (20:00 to 08:00), there are 4 interns on site, with an additional 1 intern covering the stepdown unit in Fairview Hospital.

Worked here? Add your experience or suggest an update
65
Interns at any time
90
Posts including this site
29
Full-year posts
61
Posts that rotate in

Great craic. Great learning. Shockingly busy hospital though.

Pros
Excellent hospital and experience
People are (mostly) very sound
Great social scene
Better task sharing than some other hospitals
Centre of excellence for several specialties
Very well supported by senior staff
NCHD hub
Cons
Call can be very, very intense
Big sick patients
Busy
Most have some time in peripherals (can be a good thing)
Colorectal and Ortho are tough (pro: trauma bonding and you become very independent)
2 sets of night shifts in each rotation
2 weekend days/bank holidays in each rotation
Teaching2x weekly teaching, one consultant-led session, one intern-led session
LeaveAnnual leave is team-specific
Transportpublic_transport: Good access to public transport
On-Call
8.5
Overall
8.7
Overall
7.9
Nightlife & Social
7.9
Transport Links
7.8
Accommodation
6.6
Affordability
5.6

34 reviews

Living in Dublin as an NCHD→

Academic / Renal & On Call

5/5
Would do again
Would choose again

10h per week (reported hours)

Overall
10
Staffing Levels
10
Teaching
10
Workload
10
Enjoyment
10
Supervision
10
Career Value
10

Day to Day

Only did call and one clinic a week - rest is all free for research!
Adapted from 1 intern response; read individual reviews below

Intern 1

Day to day: Only did call and one clinic a week - rest is all free for research

Gastroenterology

5/5
Would do again
Would choose again

65h per week (reported hours)

Overall
10
Staffing Levels
10
Teaching
10
Workload
10
Enjoyment
10
Supervision
10
Career Value
10

Advice

Very enjoyable rotation!

Vascular Surgery

4/5
Would do again
Would choose again

75h per week (reported hours)

Overall
9
Staffing Levels
8
Teaching
7
Workload
8
Enjoyment
8
Supervision
2
Career Value
8

Advice

Overall, an enjoyable rotation but can be stressful with a lot expected of you, at times.

Geriatrics

3/5
Would do again
Mixed views

50h per week (reported hours)

Overall
5
Staffing Levels
7
Teaching
6
Workload
10
Enjoyment
6
Supervision
7
Career Value
8

Advice

Somewhat disappointing, not a bad rotation but not as good as I'd hoped

CT / Cardiac Surgery

4/5
Would do again
Would choose again

50h per week (reported hours)

Overall
6
Staffing Levels
8
Teaching
2
Workload
5
Enjoyment
8
Supervision
5
Career Value
1

Day to Day

Ward round and lots of admin. You end up learning lots of cardiology.
Adapted from 1 intern response; read individual reviews below

Intern 1

Day to day: Ward round and lots of admin. Learn lots of cardiology

Nephrology

4/5
Would do again
Would choose again

50h per week (reported hours)

Overall
10
Staffing Levels
10
Teaching
10
Workload
4
Enjoyment
10
Supervision
10
Career Value
10

Day to Day

Ward rounds, prescribing for day infusion suite, normal intern jobs.
Adapted from 1 intern response; read individual reviews below

Intern 1

Day to day: Ward rounds, prescribing for day infusion suite, normal intern jobs.

Anaesthesia

5/5
Would do again
Would choose again

39h per week (reported hours)

Overall
10
Staffing Levels
10
Teaching
10
Workload
1
Enjoyment
10
Supervision
10
Career Value
10

Advice

Have a plan going in to maximise your time here. Wonderful teaching and learning opportunities - make the most of it and enjoy

Day to Day

Alternates between theatre week and critical care week.
Adapted from 1 intern response; read individual reviews below

Intern 1

Advice: Have a plan going in to maximise your time here. Wonderful teaching and learning opportunities - make the most of it and enjoy
Day to day: Alternates between theatre week and critical care week.

General Surgery

5/5
Would do again
Would choose again

70h per week (reported hours)

Overall
9
Staffing Levels
1
Teaching
5
Workload
10
Enjoyment
10
Supervision
2
Career Value
10

Advice

If you like surgery, would recommend this job. Excellent consultants and NCHDs who will get you involved if you show interest. However, it’s very busy and often feel as though you’re acting outside your scope. Would not recommend starting on this rotation if it can be avoided. Favourite rotation of the year by far, and makes you a better doctor.
Adapted from 1 intern response; read individual reviews below

Intern 1

Day to day: If you like surgery, would recommend this job. Excellent consultants and NCHDs who will get you involved if you show interest. However, it’s very busy and often feel as though you’re acting outside your scope. Would not recommend starting on this rotation if it can be avoided. Favourite rotation of the year by far, and makes you a better doctor.

Sites you may rotate to

Posts based here share rotations with these hospitals; check the commute before you rank.

Mullingar24 shared posts · 66 min · 81.6 kmTullamore16 shared posts · 78 min · 100.8 kmPortlaoise8 shared posts · 68 min · 83.7 kmMater Private8 shared posts · 1 min · 0.3 kmTemple Street4 shared posts · 2 min · 1 kmCappagh4 shared posts · 10 min · 5.6 kmBrophy (Navan Rd)4 shared posts · 6 min · 3.3 kmCoombe Primary Care4 shared posts · 6 min · 2.8 km

Intern posts at this hospital

90 2026/27 posts include at least one rotation at Mater, most often geriatric medicine, general surgery/colorectal surgery, cardiology. Blocks at this hospital are highlighted; the rest show you where else the post takes you.

Rotation blocks for posts including Mater, 2026/27
PostBlock 1Block 2Block 3Block 4
Academic Track 009AcademicAcademic / Renal & On CallMaterGastroenterologyMaterGeriatricsMaterVascular SurgeryMater
Academic Track 010AcademicGastroenterologyMaterAcademic / Renal & On CallMaterVascular SurgeryMaterGeriatricsMater
Academic Track 011AcademicVascular SurgeryMaterGeriatricsMaterAcademic / Renal & On CallMaterGastroenterologyMater
Academic Track 012AcademicGeriatricsMaterVascular SurgeryMaterGastroenterologyMaterAcademic / Renal & On CallMater
Academic Track 013AcademicAcademic / Haematology & On CallMaterNeurologyMaterInterventional RadiologyMaterGeneral SurgeryMater
Academic Track 014AcademicGeneral SurgeryMaterAcademic / Haematology & On CallMaterNeurologyMaterInterventional RadiologyMater
Academic Track 015AcademicInterventional RadiologyMaterGeneral SurgeryMaterAcademic / Haematology & On CallMaterNeurologyMater
Academic Track 016AcademicNeurologyMaterInterventional RadiologyMaterGeneral SurgeryMaterAcademic / Haematology & On CallMater
DML/001NephrologyMaterEndocrinologyMaterUrologyMaterGeneral SurgeryMater
DML/002EndocrinologyMaterNephrologyMaterGeneral SurgeryMaterUrologyMater
DML/003General SurgeryMaterUrologyMaterNephrologyMaterEndocrinologyMater
DML/004UrologyMaterGeneral SurgeryMaterEndocrinologyMaterNephrologyMater
DML/009CT / Cardiac SurgeryMaterGastroenterologyMaterOrthopaedicsMaterNeurologyMater
DML/010NeurologyMaterCT / Cardiac SurgeryMaterGastroenterologyMaterOrthopaedicsMater
DML/011OrthopaedicsMaterNeurologyMaterCT / Cardiac SurgeryMaterGastroenterologyMater
DML/012GastroenterologyMaterOrthopaedicsMaterNeurologyMaterCT / Cardiac SurgeryMater
DML/013Vascular SurgeryMaterCardiologyMaterGeneral SurgeryMaterHaematologyMater
DML/014HaematologyMaterVascular SurgeryMaterCardiologyMaterGeneral SurgeryMater
DML/015General SurgeryMaterHaematologyMaterVascular SurgeryMaterCardiologyMater
DML/016CardiologyMaterGeneral SurgeryMaterHaematologyMaterVascular SurgeryMater
DML/046CardiologyMaterNephrologyMaterAnaesthesiaMaterVascular SurgeryMater
DML/047Vascular SurgeryMaterCardiologyMaterNephrologyMaterAnaesthesiaMater
DML/048AnaesthesiaMaterVascular SurgeryMaterCardiologyMaterNephrologyMater
DML/049NephrologyMaterAnaesthesiaMaterVascular SurgeryMaterCardiologyMater
Every specialty rotated here (33)
SpecialtyBlocks
Geriatrics20
General Surgery19
Cardiology16
Nephrology16
Orthopaedics16
Endocrinology12
Infectious Disease12
Urology12
Vascular Surgery12
Anaesthesia8
CT / Cardiac Surgery8
Emergency Medicine8
Gastroenterology8
General Surgery / Breast Surgery8
General Surgery8
Respiratory Medicine8
Neurology6
Neurology6
Academic / Haematology & On Call4
Academic / Renal & On Call4
CT / Thoracic Surgery4
Dermatology4
ENT4
GIM / Acute Med4
Interventional Radiology4
Medical Oncology4
Haematology4
Obstetrics & Gynaecology4
Ophthalmology4
Plastic Surgery4
Respiratory Medicine / Transplant4
Rheumatology4
General Surgery1

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