Answers sought over 36 Midlands nursing graduates awaiting hospital contracts

A call for an urgent review of the cases of 36 newly qualified nurses awaiting employment contracts and start dates at three Midlands hospitals has been made in Dáil Éireann in recent days.

The nurses have completed their training and professional registration and passed the HSE recruitment process in June, but are still waiting to take up positions at hospitals in Portlaoise, Tullamore and Mullingar.

The issue was raised with Minister of State Jennifer Murnane O’Connor during a Dáil debate, asking when the graduates would receive contracts and whether the hospitals were continuing to use agency nurses while permanent positions remained unfilled.

Fine Gael TD Willie Aird said some of the graduates had signed rental agreements and made financial commitments in anticipation of starting work.

The Minister said that 97 of 105 graduate nurses and midwives in the Dublin and Midlands health region had been offered positions, with 88 accepting.

She said the Department of Health had approved the recruitment of all remaining graduates included in a submission from the region.

However, Deputy Aird said this did not address the position of the 36 nurses he had raised.

“These are qualified, registered nurses who have completed their training and successfully progressed through the HSE recruitment process. Their question is simple: when will they start work?

“I am too long on the road to accept general assurances when 36 nurses are still without contracts. I want the HSE to urgently review these cases, identify the approved and funded vacancies and provide realistic commencement dates.”

Deputy Aird also questioned the reliance on agency staff, pointing out that national agency expenditure reached €536m in the eight months to the end of August, 11.7% above budget.

He said graduate recruitment needed to be properly aligned with hospital staffing requirements and available funding.

The Minister of State acknowledged his concerns and undertook to seek a specific response from the HSE and Department of Health on the 36 nurses.

Deputy Aird also raised the case of a children's occupational therapist post in County Laois which he said had been vacant for three years.

He told the Dáil that the position had been recruited and accepted, but the HSE had subsequently withdrawn the offer.

He said two families in Laois had contacted him during the week about access to occupational therapy services for their children.

He asked the Minister of State to investigate the matter urgently. She said she would raise it with the Minister for Health and the HSE.