Ireland's Taoiseach (prime minister) Leo Varadkar has rejoined the medical register and will work one shift a week to help out during the coronavirus pandemic, according to national broadcaster RTE.

Varadkar worked as a doctor for seven years before becoming a politician. He left the medical profession in 2013.

RTE reported that he reregistered as a doctor in March and offered his services to the country’s Health Service Executive (HSE) for one session a week.

Varadkar will carry out phone assessments to free up staff for frontline work, according to RTE.