Rural health services in Cork and Kerry are facing significant staffing challenges, with the housing crisis making it increasingly difficult to attract healthcare professionals to these areas, according to reports from healthcare officials.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has raised alarm that the staffing shortages are directly impacting patient care, with much-needed hospital beds remaining closed despite being available. Communities in West Kerry and South Kerry appear to be particularly affected.
Liam Conway, INMO industrial relations officer, highlighted the severity of the situation: “In Kerry in the likes of Cahersiveen, Dingle it’s very difficult to get rental accommodation. The same would be seen in the likes of West Cork so housing is a barrier that needs to be addressed.”
These staffing shortages have created “challenges around supply of beds in older persons services” in locations including Kenmare and Cahersiveen. The impact extends beyond residential care to affect the entire healthcare system in the region, with Conway noting it’s “impacting on respite care, being able to receive residential care in your community and being able to be discharged from University Hospital Kerry.”
One striking example is the West Kerry Community Hospital in Dingle, where 11 beds in a newly built module remain unused due to staffing shortages.
Additional concerns have been raised about the lack of Irish-speaking healthcare staff to support older people in Gaeltacht areas. Conway called for the restoration of Gaeltacht allowances—”close to 10% on top of your salary”—which were eliminated during the 2008 recession, arguing: “You want to attract staff to the Gaeltacht who can speak the language.”
The HSE South-West acknowledged these recruitment difficulties, with a spokesperson stating: “There are well documented challenges in recruiting staff to some of our facilities in more rural locations. West Kerry Community Hospital’s location on a peninsula can make recruitment even more challenging.” Despite multiple hiring campaigns, “unfortunately these recruitment efforts have had limited success.”
There is some positive movement in Kenmare, where the Community Nursing Unit plans to open seven beds “in the coming months” as new staff have recently been hired, with recruitment efforts continuing.