Concerns have been raised by trade unions regarding the Health Service Executive’s staffing plans, with fears that job vacancies have been suppressed up to 2023, impacting patient care and staff wellbeing. The HSE recently lifted its ban on recruitment, but unions accuse the executive of suppressing over 2,000 funded posts across all grades.
INMO Director of Industrial Relations Albert Murphy highlighted the potential impact on patient safety, stressing the need for urgent engagement with unions to address staffing policies. SIPTU’s Kevin Figgis echoed the call for urgent engagement, expressing concern over the risk of outsourcing and its impact on staff and patient safety. Fórsa’s Ashley Connolly emphasized the necessity of practical solutions for safe staffing, advocating for adequate staff planning at local and national levels.
The ICTU Group of Healthcare Unions, comprising various healthcare representative bodies, is urging the HSE to address the staffing crisis and ensure recruitment aligns with government commitments. The HSE has reassured that a new recruitment system will maintain recruitment within approved limits, with plans to advertise 2,350 new jobs this year.
For more information, visit the HSE website.