The HSE has held the first of three consecutive open recruitment days in Dublin to encourage nurses and midwives who have travelled home for Christmas to return to work in Ireland.
The recruitment drive is taking place in Dr. Steeven’s Hospital in Dublin.
Nurses and midwives who want to work in the Irish Health Service are asked to register their details with the HSE - even if they cannot attend the recruitment event.
HSE National Director of Human Resources, Rosarii Mannion said the drive is open to nurses and midwives from all disciplines.
“Nurses and midwives home from abroad on holiday who are thinking of returning to live in Ireland may like to take the opportunity to provide us with their details and attend for interview,” she said.
“It’s a great opportunity for them to engage with the health service and find out about the many opportunities available.”
However, Sinn Féin Health Spokesperson Louise O’Reilly said the Irish service is “not an attractive place to work” adding that unless underlying issues within the system are addressed, she does not expect the latest drive to be any more successful than previous efforts from the HSE:
“Media reports only this summer noted that the HSE recruitment campaign only succeeded in getting 92 to take up full-time jobs,” she said.
“The unions have confirmed less than 100. Some of these have actually since left. This was a targeted campaign for 1200 with an 8% success.”
Ms O’Reilly said the Irish health system is in “crisis” with public health services being “starved of resources.”
“Trolley numbers have spiked, waiting lists stretch into years, we are in the grips of the winter crisis period and medical staff trained at home are leaving in droves due to poor working conditions,” she said.
“The Minister needs to deal with these issues aggressively and that means addressing working conditions, training and career pathways and pay.
“It means reopening beds; it means investing in the public system, as opposed to diverting funds to the private sector.”
The HSE recruitment drive is the first in a series of planned career day events for nurses throughout 2017.
