Ireland's call for retired medics to return to work gets huge response

FILE PHOTO: Health Minister Simon Harris speaks on stage after Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland Leo Varadkar announced that the Irish Government will hold a referendum on liberalising abortion laws at the end of May, in Dublin, Ireland, January 29, 2018. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland's health service was inundated by offers from former healthcare professionals prepared to return to frontline service to tackle the coronavirus outbreak, a day after the government made its call to arms.

Some 24,000 people responded to a call for retired doctors, nurses, therapists and university students with sufficient skills to register with the health service so they can be pressed into service as they are needed in the weeks ahead.