Phil Ní Sheaghdha, the general secretary of Ireland’s Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), criticised the Health Service Executive’s (HSE) hiring freeze during its 105th annual conference in Dublin’s Croke Park. She branded the HSE’s prioritisation of budgets over the recruitment and protection of healthcare workers as detrimental to patient safety. Ní Sheaghdha pointed out that the last time budget took precedence over staffing, it led to a significant migration of nurses and midwives to other countries, who now largely rely on Irish staff to maintain safety.
Moreover, Ní Sheaghdha strongly criticized the HSE for failing to issue the pay and staffing plan for 2024, which is still under negotiation between Stephen Donnelly, Minister for Health, and senior Cabinet representatives. This delay, she argued, is obstructing critical recruitment and causing potential delays of up to four months to obtain required authorisation to hire, with short term contracts often being the only option available, deterring prospective employees.
While Ní Sheaghdha claims that the growth in staff numbers has not kept pace with population growth in the last decade and a half, the Department of Health offers a contrary view. They cite OECD statistics indicating that the ratio of nurses per thousand individuals in Ireland climbed from 13.63 in 2007 to 15.18 in 2022. Despite the differing data-collection methods across countries, the OECD maintains that its figures show a comparable 10% rise in the ratio of nurses to the general population in Ireland over the past 15 years. Moreover, the Department holds that the count of nurses and midwives has consistently increased, with an additional 9,614 staff joining the health service from the start of 2020 through March of the same year.
Despite repeated appeals from the union, major difficulties continue to persist. At the Wednesday conference, Tony Fitzpatrick, the Director of Professional Services at INMO, mentioned the scenario at University Hospital Kerry where, he claimed, there was an urgent requirement for an extra 20 nurses as identified under the safe staffing framework agreement. However, these vacancies could not be filled due to the existing embargo.
[ Over a fifth of nurses and midwives have consulted a doctor for stress associated with their work – INMO ]
The union contends that scarcities throughout the broader health system are exerting pressure on incumbent staff. A survey conducted prior to this conference showed that 21% of participants – over one in five – had sought help from their GP due to stress-induced ailments.
Around 70% of those surveyed expressed their belief that their jobs are detrimentally affecting their overall wellbeing, with 55% indicating that they frequently or increasingly suffer from physical fatigue.
One of the key challenges, according to the study, is the compulsion to put in extra hours, with over half – 54% – admitting to this pressure.
Ms Ní Sheaghdha also commented that the first raise promised under the new public sector pay agreement has not yet reached the nurses, with one employer hinting at an inability to implement any pay bumps before November.
In retaliation, the HSE confirmed that the initial instalment of the deal would be processed, along with back pay, in June. The HSE also denied knowledge of any areas proposing a delay until November.