HSE recruitment ban may hit cancer services

DEVELOPMENTS in disability and cancer services could be held up this year because of the recruitment restrictions, the chief executive of the Health Service Executive has warned.

Prof Brendan Drumm said the health authority needed to shed 1,520 staff this year, but there had been slower uptake in early retirements, which was delaying the plan.

Speaking at the launch of the HSE’s annual report, he said the situation would present a challenge for new developments where recruitment was conditional onan overall head count being reduced.