Appeal for action to halt 'absolute shambles' of Mayo hospital recruitment freeze
An urgent appeal has been issued to the Department of Health to approve all contracts which have already been signed by the HSE in respect of Mayo University Hospital and immediately offer clarity regarding the start dates.
Deputy Paul Lawless said the 'absolute shambles' being witnessed at the Castlebar facility is a recruitment freeze in all but name.
He hit out: "It appears the HSE has overrun the budget for the west and north west and, as a result, the Department has introduced a recruitment freeze.
"While this is happening, there are 85 vacancies in Mayo University Hospital, 50 of which are nursing and midwifery positions.
"Just down the road in Galway, 88 graduate nurses from Galway University Hospital were offered contracts and positions.
"They were offered specific jobs on specific wards.
"Days before induction was due to begin, however, those contracts were, effectively, shelved.
"When I first raised this issue with the Minister for Health in the Dáil, she blamed the HSE.
"What she failed to mention, however, was that her department was reneging on these contracts and slowing the entire process.
"This situation is not refined to graduate nurses alone.
"Over the past couple of weeks, my office has been inundated with healthcare professionals, physios and occupational therapists.
"They were offered jobs and positions, with start dates and contracts signed, but those contracts have been shelved.
"The department has given no indication as to when those contracts will come into place.
"I spoke to one lady this week who was offered a contract, which she signed.
"It was suggested to her by the line manager in the HSE to hand in her notice, and she did so, given she had a contract and start date.
"That individual is now without a job because her current employer has already recruited and put in place a new hire, and she is still waiting for the HSE to implement her position that was due to commence.
"Let us imagine a young mother with young children approaching Christmas, who signed a contract with the HSE, handed in her notice based on the good faith of that contract and is now without a job and faced into jobseekers’ benefit.
"It is the same for many of the nurses who graduated from Galway University Hospital. They undertook four years of an undergraduate programme as well as a nine-month internship programme.
"For the nine months of that internship, they were being told that there are jobs there for them but, instead, they have had to sign up for social welfare. It is totally unacceptable.
"I am asking the minister to intervene before many of our young people go off to Australia and Canada."