Dublin People - Future of jobs at Crumlin hospital in doubt

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Future of jobs at Crumlin hospital in doubt

Wednesday, 04 June 2008

More than 100 jobs are to be axed at our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin, according to trade union officials at IMPACT.
The union say that a letter circulated to staff at the hospital outlined significant cuts to agency and staff numbers at the country’s largest pediatric hospital.
A circular issued to hospital staff stated that there will be significant reductions to agency and temporary staff numbers. The cuts are expected to affect most hospital departments.
According to the circular, pay costs currently account for 70 per cent of the hospital’s expenditure while HSE funding was e14 million below expectations for the year.
The announcement comes as 28,000 IMPACT members in the HSE and HSE-funded organisations are refusing to cover posts left vacant by the recruitment freeze, union official Eamonn Donelly explained.
“In 2007, the hospital received e10 million less in funding from the HSE than it actually spent trying to meet the needs of children referred to the hospital,” Mr Donelly said. “This year, the hospital has had to agree in advance that e7 million of savings will be achieved, despite their projected expenditure.
“It is significant that these jobs are being done by temporary and agency staff,” he added. “The restrictions on recruitment have led to an over-reliance on temporary and agency staff despite the increase in demand for services.”
However, the HSE has denied some of the claims made by IMPACT.
“There is no current recruitment freeze in place, despite the union's claims,” a spokesperson for the HSE said.
“The HSE has put in place strict controls to ensure that all future recruitment in the health services is geared towards patient services.”
Martin McDonald, national director of human resources with the HSE, called on IMPACT to enter into dialogue, pointing out that a total of 2,416 people have been hired this year by the HSE.
“The HSE is fully aware of the financial challenges currently within Our Lady's Children's Hospital,” he said.
“We have been working closely with hospital management over the past few months to assist them with the task of providing services while managing their budget and will continue to do so.”
The Irish Nurses’ Organisation (INO) is seeking an urgent meeting with the HSE to raise concerns about what they see as a lack of consultation on the matter, according to industrial relations officer Albert Murphy.
“It is deplorable that there has been no consultation with the organisation regarding possible reductions in agency and temporary staff numbers,” he stated.
“Unless adequate funding is provided for Crumlin it is going to cause severe difficulties for Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital which is the primary referral centre for children in Ireland.”
The hospital has confirmed that there are planned reductions in agency and temporary staff numbers but say permanent employees will not be affected in any way. However, they could not give an indication of how many job losses there will be.

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