Shortage of nurses due to recruitment freeze

HOSPITALS face serious nursing shortages in the coming months as a freeze on nurse recruitment will prohibit hospitals from renewing contracts with foreign nurses or hiring new nursing graduates.

The public service embargo put in place by the Minister for Finance, Charlie McCreevy, after the last election is starting to affect nursing staff, with 2,000 Filipino nurses expected to gradually leave their posts over the next three years.

Hospitals will also have to curb employment of Irish nursing graduates coming out of college this year as a result of the move.