Nursing homes facing ‘crisis’ due to staff shortage

The nursing shortage crippling healthcare delivery in hospitals will extend to nursing homes unless the Government urgently engages in workforce planning, Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI) has warned.

The nursing home sector is the latest to join in the clamour for major and immediate recruitment of nurses.

Earlier this week, Junior Health Minister Kathleen Lynch called on nurses who have emigrated to return to fill the 1,000 plus vacancies expected with mass retirements next June. She is also urging nurses due to retire to remain on in an effort to limit the fallout. Ms Lynch said she has raised the matter with Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Health Minister Leo Varadkar.