HSE blames Covid and staff retention for spending an extra €70m on agency workers

HSE figures show that up to October, the latest month for which figures are available, spending on agency staff stood at €460m, up from €390m for the whole of 2020. In 2017, the figure was €300m.

The HSE's spending on agency staff has risen by more than €70m so far this year, with the executive blaming the increase on covering staffing shortfalls due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

HSE figures show that up to October, the latest month for which figures are available, spending on agency staff stood at €460m, up from €390m for the whole of 2020. In 2017, the figure was €300m.