€14.6m spent rehiring retirees

THE HSE spent about €14.6 million last year on rehiring retired staff — an increase of almost €5m compared to the previous year.

The payments to some 773 retired staff for services provided included 488 nurses, 49 medical staff and five dentists.

The C&AG report outlined how skills and personnel shortages in certain areas meant the HSE had little option but to bring in retired staff.