Health staff freeze ‘will hit key services’

THE Health Service Executive (HSE) has been warned that its decision to stop all new staff appointments could affect the provision of essential health services.

Trade unions represented on the Health Service Staff Panel, including IMPACT, SIPTU and the Irish Nurses Organisation (INO), have written to the HSE demanding assurances that the freeze on new appointments announced earlier this week will not be allowed to affect the provision of essential care.

In their letter, addressed to HSE Director of Human Resources Martin McDonald, the unions said they had sought an emergency meeting of the Health Service National Joint Council on the issue.