The Health Services Executive imposes a temporary ban on recruiting staff to in a attempt deal with a financial overrun.
Hospital consultants attending the second day of talks on new contracts have reacted angrily to a new Health Service Executive circular, imposing a temporary ban on the recruitment of new or replacement staff. Doctors say it raises questions about negotiations on new contracts when the executive does not have the money for existing staff. The HSE says the ban will be reviewed next month and is aimed at protecting current service levels.
A freeze in employing Health Services staff.
Dr David O'Keeffe of the Irish Hospital Consultants' Association describes the introduction of a ban on recruitment as "absolutely appalling".
The Irish Medical Organisation says that the main people that will suffer as a result of the decision is patients.
A new one month ban on recruitment has been imposed. Doctors say the ban imposes questions on the employment of over one thousand new consultants when the executive does not have the money for existing staff. Fintan Hourihan of the Irish Medical Organisation says that the decision will result in a cutback in patient services, longer waiting lists and unacceptable delays.
The HSE directive has been issued to deal with a €140 million overrun in the health system. The HSE insists that new directives at this time of year are not unusual. Liam Woods, Director of Finance at the HSE, says that the decision was made to deliver a balanced financial position and will be reviewed next month.
It's the staff recruitment ban that will have the biggest impact and affect patients if it continues for several months.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 5 September 2007. The reporter is Fergal Bowers.
