Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 January 2024
36. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that an organisation (details supplied) has stated that hospitals are in a near constant state of overcrowding coupled with short staffing; if he will lift the health service recruitment freeze; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1649/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt present there are many factors affecting the services during the winter months.
The recruitment pause is part of a suite of control measures, including an instruction to reduce expenditure on agency staff and management consultants across the HSE and Section 38 organisations.
The reality is that the HSE have exceeded their 2023 funded workforce targets, which is neither affordable or sustainable. To order to manage workforce growth within budgetary targets the recruitment pause will continue until a review is complete.
There are 25,239 more staff working in our health service than there were at the beginning of 2020. That’s a 20% increase, meaning that for every 5 people working in the health service in 2020, we now have 6.
The 25,239 increase includes 7,510 nurses and midwives; 3,881 health and social care professionals; and 2,859 doctors and dentists.
We have seen consistent growth in the workforce each year since 2020, with record growth. The workforce growth in 2023 was the highest it has even been since the foundation of the HSE.
It was essential that controls were put in place in the latter part of 2023 in order to protect the HSE’s ability to continue to recruit essential roles in 2024.
Funding for an additional 2,268 staff has been secured by the Minister for Health for 2024. Plans for the immediate recruitment of these staff are currently being put in place by the HSE.
