Zero tolerance of sick leave abuse at Galway hospitals

By SIOBHÃÂN HOLLIMAN PEOPLE working in the health service in Galway city and county are being warned of a â€Ëœzero tolerance' when it comes to abuse of sick leave. The HSE West has been criticised nationally for continued high rates of absenteeism among its workforce and last year the average absenteeism rate for Galway's public hospitals was more than five per cent.[private] Towards the end of last year it was estimated that one in 20 people weren't turning up for work in the HSE West at a cost of €5 million a month. A special task force to address the problem regionally was set up last September and it has shown some success in its initial stages with a drop of one per cent in the first three months of this year. Chairman of the Regional Health Forum West Cllr Padraig Conneely raised his concerns that people are 'pulling sickies' on Fridays and Mondays to extend their weekend and that some staff viewed the sick leave policy as an entitlement to extra holidays. HSE officials pointed out that 88 per cent of sick leave in Galway University Hospitals is certified by a GP and that phone-in sick days on Fridays and Mondays must also be signed off by a GP. Regional Director John Hennessy was eager to dispel the idea that there was a minimum entitlement to sick leave. 'If there is a suggestion of abuse, appropriate action will be taken. There is almost a zero tolerance of such abuse,' he told this week's meeting of the health forum. Members were told that it was only a small minority who were abusing the system and that management were making significant headway in addressing the problem. Mr Hennessy said absenteism caused huge problems for the health services in the HSE West area and that the March average of 4.4 per cent was still too high. A national target of 3.5 per cent has been set. 'It can be hugely disruptive for other staff and patients and even operations can be affected. The majority of sick leave is certified and any abuse will result in disciplinary action,' he warned. Cllr Conneely had raised the issue, stating that such high levels of sick leave wouldn't be tolerated in the private sector and felt that some staff felt it was their right to take the leave even if they weren't sick. Management said that while a person can phone in sick on a day, all sick leave is followed up with a return to work discussion with the staff member concerned. If the problem persists or a pattern emerges, a formal review is taken and disciplinary action may also follow.[/private]