HSE pauses all job offers in a ‘cynical’ move

Recruitment tactic slated by trade union

A ‘CYNICAL’ tactic by HSE chiefs is causing widespread confusion, as managers are advised to run recruitment campaigns but not actually hire people. This follows revelations by this newspaper that a controversial so-called ‘recruitment pause’ is affecting primary care staff as well as those in hospitals.

The Irish Mail on Sunday can reveal the health agency’s National Recruitment Service wrote to senior HSE managers suggesting recruitment be ‘paused’ at the job offer stage.

This means advertising and interviews for roles would continue but no one is actually offered a job or taken on the payroll.

This effectively leaves wouldbe employees in limbo, and doesn’t address the gaping staff shortages which are adversely affecting key services, according to unions.

The pause contradicts HSE boss Tony O’Brien’s recent statement that recruitment is continuing. The move has been described as ‘cynical’ by the head of SIPTU’s health division.

The health service has struggled in recent years with a strict embargo on hiring new staff. This policy, in place for over five years, meant the ratio of staff to patients dropped to unsafe levels according to those working in the area.

Last year this was halted, and recruitment campaigns, including one to attract nurses home from the UK, were launched.

Now it seems in spite of the dire need for more new staff to care for rising population figures, the HSE are not quite ready to take on the numbers required.

Healthcare jobs are recruited centrally through the National Recruitment Service. A letter sent by senior manager, Mary Doran, refers to the on-going hiring campaigns. The letter states: ‘As of today no further expressions of interest or formal job offers will be made for any acute sites… This pause will include acute nursing, midwifery and medical consultants.’

SIPTU’s Paul Bell said: ‘This is a formal communication from the HSE’s recruitment arm saying there is no further recruitment.

‘That’s actually cynical this approach. People who are in the process are to be brought to a stage where they are approved, but no job offer can be made.

He added: ‘We don’t buy ‘pause’, we see this as a moratorium.’

This week the HSE defended their position. A spokesman said: ‘The NRS is continuing to run recruitment campaigns so that when a position is confirmed for appointment that the appointment can take place as quickly as possible.

The spokesman added hospital bosses can argue for ‘priority recruitment of key posts on an exceptional basis’.

This leaves would-be employees in limbo