“There is such a crisis on the front line” - Mayo TD calls for HSE action as qualified nurses face uncertainty
Paul Lawless TD says withdrawal of promised contracts comes as Mayo University Hospital has 50 nursing vacancies
Mayo TD Paul Lawless has called on the Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and the HSE to intervene after newly qualified nurses in Galway were reportedly left without jobs following the withdrawal of employment contracts.
Deputy Lawless said the nurses had been promised positions with the HSE, including posts on specific hospital wards, but those contracts had since been withdrawn.
He described the situation as a recruitment freeze in all but name, arguing that it was happening at a time when hospitals were experiencing significant staffing pressures.
“They were promised jobs in the HSE, promised jobs on specific wards in hospitals, and yet the HSE have pulled those contracts,” Deputy Lawless said. “Mayo University Hospital alone has 85 vacancies, and 50 of those vacancies are amongst nursing positions.”
The Aontú TD highlighted what he described as a contradiction between the shortage of nursing staff in local hospitals and the position facing newly qualified nurses who have completed their training but cannot secure employment.
“Just up the road, we have 85 nurses who have graduated, who we have trained and who are now without positions,” he said.
Deputy Lawless warned that nurses unable to find work in Ireland could be forced to look for employment abroad, including in Australia.
“We cannot allow these wonderful nurses to emigrate to Australia and further afield while we need them here in our own hospitals,” he said.
He called on the Minister for Health to meet the affected nurses and work with the HSE to resolve the situation.
Deputy Lawless said urgent intervention was needed to address the uncertainty facing the graduates and ensure hospitals could recruit the nursing staff they require.