HSE confirms staff vacancies at two County Roscommon nursing homes

There are staff vacancies in two HSE nursing homes in the county, a  recent meeting of the Regional Health Forum was told.

At the forum, the HSE confirmed, following questions from Cllr Sean Moylan, that there were vacancies at the Plunkett Community Nursing Unit in Boyle, and at the Sacred Heart Hospital, Roscommon Town.

“All posts approved for filling have been referred to the HR departments for recruitment. Recruitment challenges continue in both units, especially in grades such as multi-task assistants (MTAs), and domestic and health care assistant (HCA) staff,” the HSE said. “Both units are utilising agency on an ongoing basis to fulfil the roster. Agency staff are utilised to cover vacant positions pending recruitment, decommissioned positions, and positions where staff are on approved long-term absences.” 

 “Agency staffing is managed in line with the current pay and budget requirements and to ensure appropriate safe rostering is maintained,” the HSE said. “The older persons management team continues to work closely with the human resource departments to launch site specific targeted recruitment campaigns.” 

Speaking at the forum, Cllr Moylan asked for the number of staff vacancies in these facilities. “Are the staff rotas being filled every week in those places?” he asked HSE officials. “What is the HSE doing about it? I don’t see any advertisement campaigns," he said.

He suggested that the HSE approach schools to highlight its work. “We could be surprised by the uptake of students in Transition Year, for example if they were given the chance to spend a summer working in a nursing home,” he said.

Ms Ann Cosgrove, integrated healthcare area manager for HSE Galway and Roscommon, said she would revert with the number of vacancies. She said that the staff rosters were filled but added that securing domestic and health care assistant staff was a challenge.

“We do have a reliance on agency staff although from a financial perspective that is very difficult for us,” she said. While specific recruitment campaigns were carried out, these could not be carried out everywhere, Ms Cosgrove added.