HSE chief admits recruitment ban is creating problems for health service

THE head of the Health Service Executive (HSE) has admitted the ban on staff recruitment is creating difficulties across the health service.

However, Cathal Magee said the executive “will intervene” and “support any interventions that are there” to protect quality of patient care.

Mr Magee was addressing the annual delegate conference of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation in Kilkenny, where nurses outlined the daily challenges posed by the recruitment ban. It was the first time a HSE chief executive had addressed the conference.