HSE spends €26m on locums to fill shortages

THE HSE spent a massive €26 million on locum doctors to fill chronic staff shortages across public hospitals in the first half of this year.

Official figures show the expenditure was between January and the end of June — a period which has contributed to what senior health service officials have admitted is the worst financial overspend the HSE has ever faced.

If the cost was spent elsewhere, it would be the equivalent of appointing 300 consultants, a move which would increase the specialist doctor workforce by 12%.