Registration delays may hit nurse recruitment

An INMO senior executive has warned that the HSE’s new nursing recruitment drive could face problems if a staffing crisis and backlog of applications can’t be cleared.

The HSE has announced a drive to recruit 500 overseas nurses, including Irish returnees. The HSE lists salaries of between €27,211 and €43,800, waived registration fees with the Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) and educational support, as well as a €1,500 expenses tax allowance in its bid to attract overseas nurses to positions in the HSE.

Although INMO deputy general secretary Dave Hughes welcomed the jobs announcement, Edward Mathews, director of social policy, regulation and recruitment at the INMO, warned the HSE’s new campaign will require a “joined-up approach” by the HSE and the NMBI to be successful.