The recruitment embargo on front-line health service staff must be lifted “as a matter of urgency” as the entire system is now “at breaking point”.
This is the view of Independent Galway West TD Noel Grealish who is calling on the Minister for Health Dr James Reilly to take action over this issue.
“The situation in the health system is continuing to deteriorate and the lack of staff and funding for essential services is hitting more and more vulnerable people,” said Dep Grealish.
The Carnmore based TD said that the situation is made all the more precarious with the “huge numbers of staff” who will be retiring from the health service before the end of February.
“I am meeting people on an almost daily basis who are the victims of cuts to essential home-help and community care services or who are having difficulty in securing an appointment or a bed in the hospital,” he said. “We should be recruiting now and not after essential services are taken away and people are left struggling or in unsafe conditions.”
