Pay rises for key hospital staff may cut waiting times

Increasing the pay of hospital consultants and nurses, outside of the new public service deal, is a likely means of resolving the crisis in the health sector.

On foot of the trolly crisis in hospitals last week, the Government has signalled a willingness to identify “pinch points” where the recruitment and retention of staff is difficult.

Health Minister Simon Harris and Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe have asked the Public Service Pay Commission to examine if pay should be increased in health to address waiting times, but without jeopardising the overall public sector pay deal.