‘Pregnant nurses out sick at cost of health service’

PREGNANT nurses who are increasingly taking extended sick leave prior to commencing maternity leave are doing so at a huge cost to the health service, according to a Health Service Executive (HSE) human resources chief.

Barry O’Brien, HR assistant national director HSE South, said the growing trend applied to female staff across the board.

His claim was made in response to criticism from the Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) of poor staffing levels across the health sector compounded by a HSE embargo on boosting numbers beyond 2007 levels.