Department of Health responds to Longford graduate nurses’ concerns amidst withdrawal of employment contracts
The Department of Health say there is no recruitment embargo in the HSE, and that recruitment has not stopped. Strengthened controls are in place in four HSE Regions, including the Dublin and Midlands Region
THE Department of Health has confirmed that 88 graduate nurses and midwives have accepted positions in the Dublin and Midlands region, following concerns raised by newly qualified nurses from Longford about delays in receiving employment contracts at Regional Hospital Mullingar.
In a statement to Longford Live, the Department said: “There are 105 graduate nurses and midwives in the Dublin and Midlands Region. To date, 97 have been offered positions, with 88 accepting. The HSE has advised that work is ongoing to offer posts to the remaining graduates and finalise outstanding recruitment decisions and start dates as quickly as possible.
“Priority should be given to directly recruiting graduates into services where vacancies are currently covered through sustained agency use. This would help retain graduates, provide safer and more stable services, strengthen the permanent workforce and deliver better value from the overall pay bill.
“The Department continues to engage closely with the HSE on graduate recruitment. While individual appointments, contracts and start dates are operational matters for the HSE, the Department expects these to be progressed promptly and graduates to receive clear and timely information.”
The Department of Health explained: “The Government is fully committed to retaining newly qualified nurses and midwives in the public health service. The Health Service Executive (HSE) is aware of annual graduate numbers and must plan recruitment accordingly.
“There is no recruitment embargo in the HSE, and recruitment has not stopped. Strengthened controls are in place in four HSE Regions, including the Dublin and Midlands Region, to ensure appointments are affordable, properly prioritised and directed to the services and locations of greatest patient need.”
The Department concluded its statement, noting: “Nationally, 1,145 of 1,375 graduate nurses and midwives have been offered positions to date, an offer rate of 83%, and more than 1,000 have accepted.”