Absenteeism in hospitals still ‘above average’

THE regional director of operations in HSE West, John Hennessy has claimed absenteeism in major acute hospitals is not being reduced quickly enough.

Figures provided by the HSE show the absenteeism rate in the Mid West Regional Hospital in Limerick stands at 6.6%, with a rate of 7.3% amongst the hospital’s 703 nursing staff and 11.5% amongst the hospital’s 211 ‘other care staff’.

Meanwhile, Galway University Hospital (GUH) showed an average absenteeism rate of 5.6%.

In an interview, Mr Hennessy said: “If you take a large hospital and 5%-6% of staff are absent, it means that 100 staff are absent every day. That is way too high and it represents a huge lost opportunity for service delivery, productivity and continuity.”

The figures for May from GUH show absenteeism rates are highest amongst the 1,237 nursing staff, where an absenteeism rate of 6.63% was recorded, and amongst the 221 ‘other patient and client care’ which recorded an absenteeism rate of 8.3%.

The current HSE target is to reduce absenteeism to 3.5% and Mr Hennessy admitted that low morale amongst HSE staff may be a factor in the high absenteeism rates.

He said: “Perhaps it is related to morale levels. That is an issue we have to grapple with both nationally and locally in terms of how people feel coming into work for the HSE.”

He pointed out: “The organisation has taken a considerable battering for some time. I imagine it does have a bearing on morale levels in front-line areas.”

Mr Hennessy said that “the costs are considerable” from absenteeism rates of 5% to 6%.

He said: “Absenteeism in the front-line area represents a direct hit in terms of replacement costs. We are showing pretty steady reductions over last year and this year. I’m confident it is moving in the right direction, but I’m not happy we’re getting quick enough results on that.”

The HSE was unable to provide the cost to the executive of the ongoing absenteeism in the two major hospitals.

Chair of HSE West, Cllr Padraig Conneely (FG) said yesterday “the HSE needs to adopt a more aggressive stance to absenteeism”.

He said: “If absenteeism was reduced to 4% it would allow more wards and beds to be opened up.”

A HSE spokeswoman said that at both Galway’s and Limerick’s main hospitals, “absenteeism is a key item on the Hospital Management Team agendas and monthly absenteeism reports are given to each Directorate which highlight the areas in need of most attention”.

She said: “HR staff are conducting audits on areas where absenteeism levels are high and Corporate Internal Audit has been invited to conduct further audits.”

She said that the HR departments in both hospitals provide ongoing support in relation to absenteeism in consultation with Stress Management counsellors, the Occupational Health Department and the Employee Support Service Programmes.