Contracts for 62 graduate nurses at UHG

GRADUATE nurses left in limbo over permanent positions promised to them at University Hospital Galway are to receive employment contracts.

Galway East TD Seán Canney has said he received confirmation from Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill that the Department of Health have given approval for the HSE to provide employment contracts to 62 graduate nurses at UHG, and contracts to a total of 184 newly qualified nurses in the HSE West and North West region.

The news means that the graduate nurses left without employment after passing their four-year nursing degree from University of Galway in September and requesting positions in UHG, will receive contracts that were promised to them after they completed the interview stage of their course in March.

A total of 72 graduate nurses passed the interview stage, with some having gone to work in other hospitals since September.

“This is very positive news for the newly qualified nurses who have been waiting for their contracts to be approved,” said Deputy Canney.

“I understand that the Department of Health has given the necessary approval to the HSE for contracts to issue to those nurses who graduated this year and had already accepted offers of employment.

“I am satisfied that this issue has now been sorted. These nurses have worked hard to achieve their qualifications, and I want to wish each and every one of them the very best of luck as they embark on their careers.”