Roscommon County Hospital named among highest in latest HSE absenteeism rates

Roscommon County Hospital was revealed to have the second highest rate of absenteeism of 8.19 per cent in the latest absenteeism findings by the HSE which cover a wide range of areas of the health service nationwide. The figure increased to 14.45 per cent among some of its staff. The Midlands ambulance service also had a large absenteeism rate among its administration staff reaching a high of 17.91pc, according to the figures supplied by HSE. The figures cover a span of three months last year and were published following orders by Health Minister James Reilly, who wanted a "name and shame" policy to highlight the issue. The worst hit area for absenteeism was the ambulance service in Dublin north east, where 10/53% of workers were absent over the course of three months. Overall the HSE was far from meeting its target of a 3.5% absenteeism rate. The HSE in the west confirmed last year that it dismissed three people in the past 12 months over continuous absenteeism. 104 staff members have also been removed from the sick leave scheme. The absenteeism problem also affects community health services in areas including Westmeath, Mayo, Dublin west, Limerick and Wicklow. Tackling this issue remains high on the HSE's hospital management team agendas.