Ahern laments staff morale in health service

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern has admitted morale is so low in the Health Service Executive (HSE) that some staff are embarrassed to say where they work.

The surprise admission appears to bolster opposition claims that the executive is not functioning properly.

The Labour Party last night said the morale problem was “largely the fault of Mr Ahern and his Government”, especially when ministers consistently shifted the blame for health system failures to the HSE.