Failed drive to hire nurses leaves gaping staff hole

RECRUITMENT campaigns by hospitals have netted just 147 nurses in so far this year, leaving a gaping hole in staffing.

This follows a campaign run by the HSE in the UK which has netted fewer than 100 staff so far. It falls far short of the estimated 3,000 nurses and midwives needed, according to the nurses’ union, the INMO.

According to the HSE’s 2015 service plan, there were 62,416 nurses working across a range of areas.

A number of hospitals, known as the Dublin Teaching Hospitals, launched campaigns across seven countries, including Australia and Canada.

Tallaght hospital has hired 47 nurses from the UK, Philippines and India since the start of the year. St Vincent’s Hospital has recruited 27 nurses, including two from Australia and one from Canada. Further campaigns will concentrate on the Philippines and India, a spokesman said. Meanwhile, 50 nurses from four countries, including Australia have started working in St James’s Hospital, according to a spokeswoman. Other target countries were Nigeria and Portugal, as well as India and the Philippines.

And at Beaumont Hospital, 23 nurses have already started working, with another 43 expected by October.

The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) said 2,090 nurses had applied from abroad for registration in Ireland this year and 807 had successfully completed the process.

Worryingly however, there are 1,692 more nurses who have applied, but cannot yet be processed.

Unions have called for clarity around a HSE ‘recruitment pause’ which has left nurses unsure of the recruitment pathway. Documents seen by the Mail on Sunday from the National Recruitment Office say certain posts are not being filled. The HSE has said this is part of a process to ensure hospitals remain within their budget during a review period.