Labour candidate calls for end to cap on healthcare staff
Cllr Seán Ó hArgáin, the Labour Party candidate for Carlow/Kilkenny at a protest outside St Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny
LABOUR Party general election candidate in Carlow/Kilkenny cllr Seán Ó hArgáin has called on the government parties to back the Labour Party Dáil motion to end the cap on healthcare recruitment and deliver safe staffing levels in hospitals and community services to support patient care in Carlow/Kilkenny.
Cllr Ó hArgáin pointed out that under the new HSE Pay and Numbers Strategy, positions are deliberately being left vacant and unfilled and this is putting even more pressure on frontline staff and undermining services.
“I was happy to attend the recent lunchtime demonstration by members of SIPTU, the INMO and Fórsa at St Luke’s Hospital, where I heard at first hand the damage that the Pay and Numbers Strategy is having on them personally and on our vital local and regional health services,” he said.
“Government party candidates can’t hide from the impact their policies are having on our frontline healthcare services. The HSE’s de-facto recruitment embargo is damaging to patient safety, undermining care and impacting on efforts to retain staff.
“Thousands of positions across the country, and many in Carlow and Kilkenny, are deliberately being left vacant. Local clinical managers have been stripped of autonomy and can’t fill vacancies when a healthcare worker retires, changes job or takes maternity leave.
“Healthcare workers in Carlow/Kilkenny are being forced to do more with less and safe patient care is not guaranteed. The INMO has highlighted that thousands of positions were abolished over the last two years under the last embargo and nursing posts in cancer, palliative, paediatric and rehab care are being left vacant,” said the Kilkenny-based councillor.
“We’re halfway through October and already 969 patients have been left languishing on trolleys in St Luke’s Hospital. It’s not good enough.” “Speaking to healthcare workers in Carlow/Kilkenny, it’s clear that they are extremely concerned about the weeks and months ahead. Each worker goes above and beyond for their patients, but the government simply is not valuing them,” he said.
“Healthcare workers in Carlow/Kilkenny deserve better. I am calling on TDs in Carlow/Kilkenny to support Labour’s motion next Wednesday in the Dáil. Together, we can build a healthcare system that works,” cllr Ó hArgáin concluded
