Health staffing at St Michael's
Richard Boyd Barrett argued the Government’s pay-and-numbers strategy was a recruitment embargo that left hospitals dangerously understaffed, citing vacant posts in his local hospital. The Taoiseach rejected the claim that the hospital was unsafe, said he would ask the Minister for Health to respond, and noted overall health staffing had risen substantially since 2020.
I have repeatedly raised the recruitment embargo by another name that the Government has imposed on the health service, the so-called pay and numbers strategy, which is limiting the ability of hospitals and health services to recruit the staff they need to ensure safe staffing and proper patient safety in the hospitals. The Taoiseach is aware health workers are balloting for industrial action because of the Government's failure to address this.
On foot of me raising it in here, the Ireland East Hospital Group acknowledged at the end of September that there were, in fact, 21 vacant posts in my local hospital, St. Michael's Hospital. It said, presumably on foot of the fact that we raised the matter in here, wrote to it and put in parliamentary questions, that it was to commence the recruitment to fill those 21 vacant posts in the hospital. I checked with the workers in the hospital, who were delighted to hear that news, in the past number of days. I asked them whether there was any sign of the new recruits and they said, "Not a dicky bird." There has been no advertising for these 21 posts and no sign of new staff.
Comment on this
The hospital remains exactly as it was when the workers first raised this issue - chronically understaffed and not safe for patients.
Comment on this
Can the Taoiseach look into it or explain?
Comment on this
I will certainly look into the specifics and ask the Minister for Health to revert. We should be very careful in saying things about hospitals being not safe for patients. St. Michael's Hospital is a very good hospital providing very good care to many people, including my family, over the years.
Comment on this
I know that.
Comment on this
Let us not suggest the care being provided in the hospital is not safe. That is not a responsible thing to say in this House. The care in St. Michael's Hospital is safe and excellent. I will ask the Minister for Health-----
Comment on this
Not if it is not staffed.
Comment on this
I will ask the Minister for Health to revert to the Deputy directly on the issue.
To put it in context, as of August of this year, there were 27,901 more staff working in the health service than there were in 2020. That is 9,375 additional nurses, 6,184 other people working across the hospitals, 4,092 health and social care professionals and 3,330 doctors and dentists. There are tens of thousands more people working in the health service now than there were when this Government came to office. On the specifics, we will follow up.