Richard O'Donoghue: Raises alarm over UHL hiring freeze
Richard O'Donoghue raised concerns about a hiring freeze at UHL affecting two healthcare workers returning from Australia and urged the Minister of Health to intervene. He said one was a physio and the other an ICU nurse who had been offered a position but was later told of a freeze on taking on staff.
O'Donoghue told the chamber that two Limerick people returning from Australia — a physiotherapist and an ICU nurse — had been offered roles but were informed they could not be taken on due to a freeze at UHL. He asked the Minister of Health to look into the case and intervene on behalf of the returning staff.
The Minister asked the deputy to provide the details so the matter could be investigated. The Minister said the health service is recruiting constantly and invited the deputy to submit the specific information about the appointments.
The Minister stated there are another 6,250 people to recruit just this year after retirement and described it as "very much against the grain" to hear of hiring freezes given ongoing investment in the service.
The Minister also noted that Limerick has continued good progress on trolley numbers and that reaching Amber this weekend represented a new statement for Limerick.
Issue raised
O'Donoghue told the chamber that two Limerick people returning from Australia — a physiotherapist and an ICU nurse — had been offered roles but were informed they could not be taken on due to a freeze at UHL. He asked the Minister of Health to look into the case and intervene on behalf of the returning staff.
Minister's reply
The Minister asked the deputy to provide the details so the matter could be investigated. The Minister said the health service is recruiting constantly and invited the deputy to submit the specific information about the appointments.
Recruitment figures
The Minister stated there are another 6,250 people to recruit just this year after retirement and described it as "very much against the grain" to hear of hiring freezes given ongoing investment in the service.
Local hospital progress
The Minister also noted that Limerick has continued good progress on trolley numbers and that reaching Amber this weekend represented a new statement for Limerick.
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Transcript
Thank you Concorla. First of all I would like to wish Richard By Barrett well in his treatment and please God everything goes well for him. Just for the Minister of Health is for UHL, the freeze on UHL and we have had two Limerick people coming home from Australia that had on their way home, one is a physio and the other one is an ICU nurse. The ICU nurse had been told that they had a position within the hospital and now got a letter to say sorry there is a freeze on taking on staff in UHL. These are two Irish people that want to return home and come into the health service which I would welcome. I would welcome the Minister if she can intervene. This person was offered a job in UHL and now has been told that they cannot have one. Minister McNeill. Thank you Deputy and I would really appreciate if you might give me the details of that. We are recruiting constantly in the health service. We have another 6,250 people to recruit just this year and that is after retirement so it is very much against the grain to hear this in Dáil Éire and considering how much we have invested and how much we continue to invest. If you do give me the details I am happy to look into it. I know Limerick has continued good progress on their trolley numbers. Getting to Amber this weekend is a new statement for Limerick and I hope that they continue. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.