Nurse recruits from abroad ‘get burnout’
THE HSE are spending up to €20,000 to attract overseas recruits who are themselves suffering from burnout after an average of 18 months, the INMO’s head argued last night.
Speaking to the Irish Mail on Sunday, INMO general secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha explained that the HSE spends huge sums to bring to Ireland nurses from abroad who eventually suffer the same burnout as hometrained nurses, and leave for pastures new after around 18 months.
As tens of thousands took to the streets of Dublin in a strong show of support for the strikers, Ms Ní Sheaghdha heavily criticised the Government and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe in particular, for ignoring the ‘clear nurse shortage’ Ireland is experiencing.
She outlined the costs associated with recruiting a nurse from abroad – including €10,000 finder’s fee per professional, transport, and an adaptation cost ‘in the region of €10,000 to €11,000 per person’.
However, she went on, she added: ‘These nurses suffer the same sideeffects – burnout, stress-related issues – and they seek to move too. Our stay time has reduced to 18 months and in some cases even less.’
She said it ‘bothers’ her that the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) continue to ‘blatantly deny’ the shortage of nurses which leaves nurses overstretched and ‘concerned for their patients’ safety’.
Ms Ní Sheaghdha maintained that ‘to recruit one nurse, you actually have to recruit three… because so many are leaving’.
A spokesperson for the INMO told the MoS the union had been bowled over with the ‘incredible turnout’ at yesterday’s march in Dublin.
Commenting on Labour Court talks between the INMO, the HSE and ICTU which concluded yesterday, he said: ‘The public have our backs. But we don’t want to be on strike.
‘Next week’s strikes are avoidable. It’s up to the Government to make serious proposals to avert further strikes and ensure the recruitment crisis in nurses is resolved.’
Three days of nurses strikes look set to go ahead next week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.