Union reacts to reports that HSE CEO has order spending cutbacks after €250 million deficit recorded in first three months of this year
Any attempt to curtail health spending will have a direct, negative impact on patient outcomes, the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) has warned.
The union was responding after newspaper reports indicating HSE plans to introduce new controls on recruitment and spending in the health system after recording a €250 million deficit in the first three months of this year.
“It is very disappointing to hear that the HSE plans to introduce controls on recruitment and spending, because funding and staff numbers are already far below what they need to be to deliver an optimal health system,” said IMO president Prof Matthew Sadlier.
“It is clear to anyone working in the system that it cannot run effectively within the budget that has been set, and hence it beggars belief that spending and recruitment will be further curtailed in order to make this numbers game add up.”
According to a memo seen by The Irish Times, new HSE CEO Anne O’Connor has placed three regions – Dublin and South East, Dublin Midlands and the South West – under ‘tier three escalation’, which includes employment controls and greater scrutiny on spending.
Prof Sadlier said that it was unacceptable that doctors were being asked to do more with less. “Doctors and frontline staff need to be protected at all costs, and this kind of announcement will jeopardise their ability to deliver for patients who will see poorer outcomes as a result of these measures.
“The Pay and Numbers Strategy, which was introduced to manage health staff costs, is based on a fiscal argument that is not grounded in the reality of service delivery. If we are to promise a health service that delivers for patients, we must fund it, or else be honest with the public and say what cannot be done within the fiscal restraints.”
Meanwhile the ICTU staff panel of Health Unions said it is deeply concerned by any HSE proposal to pause recruitment for non-frontline and non-critical posts without prior engagement with trade unions.
They said the move would breach the 2025 WRC agreement on the HSE’s Pay and Numbers Strategy and Labour Court recommendation, all of which require meaningful consultation with unions before such measures are implemented.
Ashley Connolly, Fórsa’s Head of Health & Welfare division, said: “Yet again the HSE has failed to engage with the trade unions, and is imposing arbitrary measures which impact on the delivery of services. We have consistently raised the problem of excessive spending on agency staff and private consultants, problems that remain unaddressed.”
Kevin Figgis of SIPTU said commitments in current agreements on direct employment must be adhered to by the HSE: “It remains questionable as to whether health budgets are fit for purpose. Failing to meet requirements for direct employment affects the delivery of services, because it generates a chaotic approach to employment in health.”
Dr Edward Mathews, deputy general secretary of the INMO, said: “It is inconceivable that the HSE has again moved to restrict recruitment, while failing to address the underlying issues. These restrictive measures continue to impact on our members ability to deliver safe services.”
<
Leave a Reply