Unions criticise delayed publication of HSE strategy

Health unions have said that the delayed publication of a Health Service Executive (HSE) “pay and numbers” strategy is disrupting health services.

The plan will cover workforce planning, the management of new posts, agency staff and overtime.

Unions say that when they raise the ongoing recruitment embargo with HSE management, they are told that any potential for recruitment is linked to the publication of this strategy.

The ICTU group of health unions, Connect, Fórsa, the INMO, IMO, MLSA, SIPTU and Unite, have expressed frustration that health services continue to endure problems arising from the recruitment and retention of staff.

“The delay to its publication has tied everyone’s hands,” the chair of the group, INMO’s Albert Murphy, said.

“There is an alarming lack of any sense of urgency on the part of the Department of Health and the HSE,” Mr Murphy said.

“In the meantime, patients are waiting, staff are barely coping, and the uncertainty is, frankly, unbearable,” he added.