Dublin: Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has revealed that Ireland will require an additional 7,500 healthcare staff over the next year. Speaking in Parliament during a discussion on the Department of Health, Donnelly addressed concerns regarding workforce shortages, firmly denying allegations of a recruitment freeze. He emphasised that the current government has overseen unprecedented growth in the healthcare workforce.
From 2015 to 2019, the Health Service Executive (HSE) workforce expanded by an average of 3,300 new positions per year. However, under the current government, the annual increase has almost doubled. Between 2020 and 2022, the average annual increase surged to 6,000 new posts, and in 2023 alone, over 8,000 new staff were recruited. Donnelly pointed out that last year’s recruitment represented the highest in the 20 years since the HSE was established—equivalent to two and a half years’ worth of appointments in previous years.
Staffing Growth Across Major Hospitals
The minister highlighted significant staff increases at major hospitals across the country. For example:
St. Vincent’s University Hospital saw a 49% increase in nursing and midwifery staff (+498 nurses/midwives).
Talaght University Hospital experienced a 53% rise (+521 nurses/midwives).
Cork University Hospital expanded by 37% (+599 nurses/midwives).
Mater Misericordiae University Hospital grew by 39% (+488 nurses/midwives).
University Hospital Waterford saw a 51% increase (+381 nurses/midwives).
Despite this overall growth, Donnelly acknowledged staffing shortages in certain areas, particularly healthcare assistants and radiation therapists, whose numbers have declined between January and July 2024. He assured that measures will be taken to address these gaps.
Addressing Broader Staffing Challenges
Donnelly also acknowledged chronic understaffing in other areas of the health service, including the National Ambulance Service and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). He emphasised that the Department of Health is committed to ensuring safe staffing levels across all sectors, not just nursing, as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery in Ireland.
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