Criticism of HSE suspension of hospital recruitment

Siptu is demanding the Health Service Executive reverse its decision, confirmed yesterday, to suspend all recruitment for acute hospitals.

In a statement last night, the HSE said: “Pending agreement and approval of a workforce plan for each Hospital Group, the groups have been advised of a requirement to pause on any further additions to payroll."

It said that, while contractual commitments will need to be honoured, “the Groups have been advised that no further offers should be made without the signed agreement of the Hospital Group CEO”.

“However all posts are being actively monitored at group level and national level to ensure that clinical risks are appropriately managed,” the HSE said in the statement.

“Specific exemptions have been determined for areas where funding has been agreed, and in areas of critical care and of emergency services.”

Siptu health division Organiser, Paul Bell, said: “This development is deeply disturbing. The HSE never consulted with our members prior to announcing its decision to health service staff today that it had suspended recruitment. The impact of this decision cannot be understated. It will lead to a severe reduction in crucial patient services while critical vacancies across the service remain unfilled.”

Mr Bell said Siptu members working in the Nursing and Midwifery, Allied Health Professionals, National Ambulance Service and Support Grades sectors are deeply concerned they will not be adequately resourced to provide for the ever increasing demands placed upon them: “SIPTU is demanding this decision is immediately reversed and vacancies which have been approved by the HSE for recruitment are processed without delay."

Meanwhile, as drivers carry out their 12th strike today, Luas operator Transdev said it is not prepared to conclude an agreement with the driver grade that provides for increases in excess of what has been agreed with the other grades.

The company has agreed a pay offer with those other workers which equates to increase of 13% up to September 2019 with what Transdev calls "reasonable productivity".