HSE pays €1.5m a day to fill staff gap

THE HSE says it is spending €1.5 million a day on staff overtime and agency workers, but claims that the recruitment ban causing these costs is saving the state money.

Figures revealed by the Department of Health show that, between March 1, 2010, and March 31, 2011, health service officials paid €539m to fill staff shortages in the system.

This cost is higher than at any time since the HSE was set up in 2004.