HSE spends €165m on agency staff so far this year

The cost of all agency staff employed by the HSE from January to date is more than €165m, according to new figures.

The spend on agency staff in the health system came in ministerial responses to quarterly questions asked by Fine Gael Senator Colm Burke, who said it was time management structures in some hospitals were queried given the high number of agency hours being worked.

Last year the total spend on agency staff was just over €304m, so the tally so far means the 2015 figure is likely to be reduced. The HSE had pledged earlier this year to trim €25m off the figure. In his response to Senator Burke, Health Minister Leo Varadkar suggested this target would now be met.