The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organization (INMO) is demanding the immediate withdrawal of a recruitment freeze in the health department. They emphasize the urgent need to address patient overcrowding and other adverse conditions in hospitals. Despite a 13% increase in emergency department patients compared to last year, recruitment has been halted, posing challenges for long-term patient care and staff retention. INMO General Secretary, Phil Ni Scheigdha, highlights the strain on frontline staff and the threat to patient safety due to understaffing. With a growing population and aging demographics, failure to hire replacements for retiring or relocating staff exacerbates the problem. INMO calls for swift action to lift the recruitment moratorium and alleviate the strain on healthcare workers and patients alike.
