Lunchtime protests set for Drogheda Hospital today

Unite workers in Our Lady of Lourdres Hospital Drogheda will hold a lunchtime protest today over what the union has termed the HSE’s ‘backdoor hiring freeze’ which they say is impacting on patient services and causing staff burnout.

In conjunction with other unions in the health sector, Unite will also be balloting for industrial action.

The union have claimed that after the HSE claimed that it had lifted its recruitment ban, it has emerged that vacancies are being benchmarked against the 2024 headcount, with the result that any vacancies unfilled in 2023 have effectively been lost to the health service, the union has claimed.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The HSE’s recruitment cap is simply a backdoor hiring freeze, magicking away long-standing vacancies in the hope that patients and workers won’t notice. 

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“It is clear that staffing levels are unsafe, workers are burnt out, and the use of agency staff is increasing. Workers have no choice but to take action in defence of patient safety and their own working conditions”.

A recent survey of Unite members working for the HSE found the overwhelming majority reported that the number of vacancies in their department or team had remained the same since 31 December 2023.

Workers also highlighted the negative impact of staffing shortages both on patient services and on staff wellbeing:

Regional officer Eoin Drummey said:

“Staffing pressures will only increase as we face into the winter.  Unions have exhausted all the avenues at their disposal and are now left with no option but to take decisive action."