HSE Recruitment Freeze Ended

We at Clarity Recruitment are thrilled to share that the recruitment freeze at the Health Service Executive (HSE) will officially end TODAY, as announced by CEO Bernard Gloster. This marks a significant milestone for the nursing and healthcare sector, opening doors to numerous opportunities.

The HSE introduced the recruitment freeze October last year, later extending it in November to include all staff categories except for consultants, doctors in training, and 2023 graduate nurses and midwives. However, the recent government announcement of an additional €1.5 billion to support the HSE’s finances this year has changed the landscape.

Next year, the HSE will receive an extra €1.2 billion to maintain current service levels. Speaking on RTÉ's This Week, Mr. Gloster confirmed that the €1.5 billion is a permanent addition to the health service's base funding. He expressed relief that approximately 4,000 previously unfunded essential posts are now "funded and secured."

Despite the recruitment embargo, Mr. Gloster noted that more staff were hired than those who left the HSE during the freeze. The agency has entered into an agreement with Health Minister Stephen Donnelly to manage the additional €1.5 billion funding responsibly.

Mr. Gloster acknowledged the challenges ahead, emphasising the importance of establishing a new control environment to maximise the use of available resources. He stressed, "We simply have to spend what we have and get the best use of that rather than spending what we don't have."

Regarding agency use, Mr. Gloster stated that the reduction target for this year is €80 million, a revision from the previously discussed €250 million. The dependency on agency staff has doubled from €423 million in 2019 to €787 million in 2023. To address this, around 900 equivalent agency full-time posts will be converted to HSE posts this year.

New recruitment limits and controls for regions have been set to avoid past issues and ensure services remain within budget. Mr. Gloster explained that these limits allow for better response to population needs and appropriate prioritisation.

After tomorrow, only about ten people nationwide will be authorised to add new hires to the payroll system. The recruitment ceiling is set at 125,400 whole-time equivalents, excluding 20,000 in disability, with an affordable ceiling of 129,700 by the end of the year, including 2,300 new development posts.

We at Clarity Recruitment are excited about the opportunities this development brings. If you are a nurse or healthcare professional looking for new opportunities, now is the perfect time to connect with us and explore the possibilities ahead. Let's shape the future of healthcare together!