Varadkar tells health staff abroad come home

Health Minister Leo Varadkar will today appeal to doctors and nurses who have emigrated to come home.

The Fine Gael minister will say that the cycle of cuts to the health service will be no more.

In his main address to the party’s national conference in Castlebar in Co Mayo, he will say that he wants the message to go out from Ireland to doctors, nurses and therapists in England, Australia and the Middle East that it is time to consider coming home and being part of the health service recovery here.

Recruitment of nurses is underway in the health services again and the Department of Health this year expects it will increase the number of nurses by 500. This is in addition to mental health nurses in the system.

Following a recent deal on consultant pay, the HSE also last week advertised for 30 new consultants. This is part of the first batch of 100 to be recruited.

Mr Varadkar is expected to tell his party colleagues today that it will take several years to rebuild the health service. However, he will tell those gathered at the conference the cycle of cuts is over.

The minister is expected to inform delegates that hospital acquired infections like MRSA are falling and close to an all-time low.

Furthermore, he will stress the price of medicines is also falling due to greater competition and tough negotiations.

Nonetheless, there has been much recent criticism that the Department of Health is not applying enough pressure on the pharmaceutical industry to cut its prices to provide better value for patients and services.

Writing in the Irish Examiner this week, the health minister emphasised more investment was needed in the health system or services could come to a halt.