Retirements will hit West health services hard

BY SIOBHÃÂN HOLLIMAN HEALTH services in the west region are expected to be the worst affected by staff losses as a result of the state's early retirement scheme for the public service. An estimated 3,500 people are expected to leave the health sector nationally by the end of February and about 1,000 of these are thought to be from the HSE West region. [private] The INMO, Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, met in Galway yesterday to discuss the impact of the staff losses and while they hadn't exact figures of how many experienced staff were leaving or from what positions, the union is warning that it will have a 'massive impact' on the provision of frontline services and the care of the elderly in particular. Tuesday cut-off Tuesday evening was the cut-off point for public service staff to choose whether or not to avail of the early retirement scheme. INMO spokesperson for the west Regina Durkan told The Tuam Herald that she is aware of about 60 nurses who will leave University Hospital Galway and of at least 12 public health nurses who have decided to retire. 'The numbers are very significant and it will have a big impact on the delivery of services. We're waiting for contingency plans from the HSE but they would have been aware of the numbers intending to leave and some have already done so,' explained Regina Durkan. The union is seeking a meeting with the recently appointed CEO of the Galway-Roscommon Hospital Group Bill Maher in relation to the issue. 'We can't see how a plan can be developed without the necessary funding,' she remarked. The upcoming staff losses are on top of the 421 people who left the HSE West last year. The INMO stresses that it's not just the number of staff that is being lost but the loss of years of expertise and established skill-sets that will be a devastating blow for local health services. A snapshot of staff taken two weeks ago who expressed an interest in retiring showed that 536 of 964 in the HSE West were from the nursing sector - the highest number in the country. 'Many of those retiring aren't really ready to retire but are doing so because they can't work under the conditions any smore. It's very sad,' commented the INMO representative. The HSE West says it doesn't have the full details of the number of staff availing of the scheme and that it is working to address difficulties that will arise as a result. 'Galway-Roscommon Hospital Group faces many challenges in 2012 including reduced budget and reduced staffing levels. We will have a clearer picture as to the full extent of the planned retirements by the end of February. We are currently developing contingency plans to deal with the specific difficulties that will arise as a result of these retirements and will refine these plans further when the numbers retiring are finalised,' said a statement. Stop uncertainty Health forum member Cllr Mary Hoade says the uncertainty regarding the provision of public health services in Galway can't continue and wants CEO Bill Maher to attend the forum meeting at the end of February. 'It's important for everyone to know how things will move forward. There is no department or area that can afford to shed staff but if people are leaving then alternative plans have to be put in place,' she remarked. The Headford-based councillor said UHG was facing a big reduction in its budget and already had a deficit to carry forward from its overrun last year. The recent HealthStat report for up to the end of November showed a budget overrun of 5.5 per cent for UHG and while it escaped an overall red card, key areas such as elective surgery waiting times and Emergency Department waiting times were flagged with red lights, indicating urgent attention. On a positive note, Galway's two public hospitals - UHG and Merlin Park will benefit from a budget boost of €1.64 million this year. However, Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe will struggle with a reduction of over €600,000. A total of 18 hospitals around the country have had their budget allocations reduced as a result of under-performance, according to new Casemix figures for 2012. Galway University Hospitals is among those that have seen their budgets increase the most. Casemix in Ireland rewards efficiency by redirecting funds to hospitals that have demonstrated that additional funding will result in real benefits. [/private]