Dublin: The government is moving towards lifting the recruitment ban in the Health Service Executive (HSE) to address the severe staff shortages in the health sector. Chief Executive Bernard Gloster confirmed that discussions are ongoing, aiming to normalize recruitment and tackle the crisis.
Speaking at a healthcare conference in Dun Laoghaire, Gloster acknowledged that while HSE staff numbers have increased since Christmas, the recruitment ban has significantly impacted certain sectors. The shortage of staff has led to longer waiting lists, with a 7.3% increase, and overcrowded emergency departments, which saw a 10% rise. Out of 400 patients arriving at emergency departments, only 130 can be admitted.
Catherine Donohue, HSE lead for the region, noted that the number of people seeking treatment abroad has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the European scheme, patients can access treatments in other EU and EEA countries, including Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
Public health spending at the end of April reached €638 million, highlighting the urgent need for resolving staffing issues to improve healthcare services and reduce patient wait times.