UHK rejects claim nurses are quitting

STERN RESPONSE FROM HOSPITAL IN REPLY TO SINN FÉIN MEP NÍ RÍADA

MANAGEMENT at Univeristy Hospital Kerry (UHK) have issued a strident response refuting claims by Sinn Féin MEP Liadh Ní Ríada that large numbers of nurses are quitting their jobs at the hospital.

The Cork-based Ireland South MEP had claimed that up to 70 per cent of nurses and midwives employed at the hospital were planning to quit due to working conditions at the hospital. Ní Ríada said her claim was based on information given to her during a meeting with representatives of the Irish Nurse and Midwives Organisation. On Tuesday UHK issued a strongly worded statement completely rejecting Ms Ní Ríada’s allegations.

“UHK has no knowledge or evidence that a significant number of nurses are planning to leave, in fact we believe the opposite to be the case as demonstrated by the on-going response to recruitment efforts by the hospital,” said UHK .

“In relation to the recruitment of nursing staff at UHK, it should be noted that 22 graduate nurses applied to this hospital, all were offered interviews, 20 attended for interview last week and all 20 have been offered full-time permanent contracts,” said UHK via Heneghan Public Relations.

As well as running an ‘adaptation programme’ involving five overseas nurses – with a second planned for a further six nurses this June – UHK management said 17 nurses who expressed an interest in working at UHK at a recent jobs fair were all offered interviews.

Three have already been hired with eight more to be interviewed in the next week. Last year UHK hired 63 nurses and 23 have been hired this year.