Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 June 2025
815. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to carry out a full review of HSE recruitment policies, pay grades and working conditions for our frontline medical workers; to ensure all beds are available for use, at all times in Community Hospitals, such as Dingle and Cahersiveen in County Kerry, along with many others; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34042/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraNational HR's role is to provide oversight on HR policies, manage the consolidated Health sector pay scales and provide guidance on pay Terms & Conditions for employees in the Health sector. National HR have no role in local staffing, numbers and vacancies and this is a matter for the service unit.
The Pay and Numbers Strategy is an annual staffing review carried out by the HSE with DoH oversight to ensure staffing levels are implemented in line with funding, head count and public pay policy.
Challenges can exist in recruiting staff to some of the more rural community hospital locations. Staff shortages can temporarily occur in community hospitals as a result of retirements, resignations and various other leave including flexible working time arrangements which are available to staff. Maternity leave and sick leave exacerbate the staffing issues in addition to the peninsula location.
There are currently 33 beds available at Cahersiveen Community Hospital, of the 33 beds 29 are operational at this time. Unfortunately there may be occasions where beds are not occupied to 100% capacity as a result of recruitment or staffing issues. To ensure the safety of both residents and staff, bed capacity is dependent on adequate staffing levels and requires an appropriate staff skill-mix to be in place.
There are currently 54 beds registered for use at West Kerry Community Hospital, of the 54 available 42 are operational at this time. The number of beds open at any time is dependent on safe staffing levels. West Kerry Community Hospital, in common with other health facilities, can experience staffing shortages and the HSE strive to mitigate deficits and ensure that safe staffing levels are maintained.
HSE South West is working to provide additional beds at West Kerry Community Hospital so that they can provide an enhanced service for the local community. However, plans to increase capacity are dependent on staffing levels and the outcome of ongoing recruitment campaigns. The HSE are continuing intensive efforts to recruit staff of all grades for West Kerry Community Hospital, and these efforts have encompassed local, national and international campaigns.
Multiple recruitment campaigns have been run in relation to West Kerry Community Hospital, but unfortunately these recruitment efforts have had limited success. Vigorous efforts are being made by the HSE in line with recruitment policies to attract candidates to roles at the hospital.
