Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 January 2021
709. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health his views on the most recent figures for HSE recruitment of healthcare workers particularly recruitment of care professionals from the private nursing home sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3793/21]
View answerAt the end of the December, the health sector workforce had a total of 126,174 WTE. This is an increase of 6,357 WTE since the end of December 2019. Nursing and Midwifery had the largest yearly growth in 2020, with an increase of 1,712 WTE. These impressive increases are due to a variety of COVID-related initiatives, along with recruitment provided for under the Winter Plan and Budget 2021.
The Winter Plan 2020/2021 outlined the need for 12,522 additional staff, while Budget 2021 made funds available for these staff and an additional 3,216. Together with the HSE, we are aiming to increase the health sector workforce by 15,838 WTE, from Budget 2020 funded levels. Provisional HSE end of 2020 WTE targets aimed for an increase of 4,155 WTE. The end of year actual increase of 6,357 WTE is already ahead of this projection. We are delighted with this strong progress that has already been made towards the long-term strengthening of the health service. My Department continues to work with the HSE to ensure the 2021 targets are met.
Regarding the hiring of staff who worked in private nursing homes, applications for posts in the HSE are open to all candidates that display the desired skills and qualifications for the post applied for. The HSE is not targeting, nor does it intend to target the staff of nursing homes in any of its recruitment campaigns. Hospital Groups and the Community Health Organisations are cognisant of the staffing difficulties faced by the nursing home sector during the current pandemic. Indeed, the HSE are very much aware of the interdependencies of their services in the provision of care to nursing home clients.
Recruitment in the HSE is subject to the provisions of the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act, 2004 and is regulated by the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA). This regulatory framework provides that recruitment in the HSE must centre on the following five recruitment principles: Probity, Merit, Best Practice, Fairness and Transparency.
The HSE cannot exclude nursing homes staff from applying for positions or prevent them from taking up offers of employment for prolonged periods of time; it would be a breach of its Recruitment Licence to do so. It is ultimately the personal choice of any individual to determine whether or not they wish to apply for employment with the HSE, and many factors will influence such a decision. Those who are successful at competition are entitled to take up the role offered to them. In such cases, the HSE will facilitate generous notice periods to support nursing homes to recruit replacement staff.
