‘We’ve no idea if we’ll be getting a job this side of Christmas’

Tuam mum among nurses waiting for job offer

A MOTHER of three from Tuam is among the group of recently qualified nurses left in limbo over permanent positions they had been promised at University Hospital Galway.

Martha Harte completed her four-year nursing degree from University of Galway on September 13 and, like most of her classmates, she has been waiting a month to receive a contract from the HSE to begin working in UHG.

Martha was one of 72 graduate nurses who passed the interview stage of the degree. The majority of the group requested positions in UHG and were promised in March that they would be given permanent contracts once they were registered as nurses.

“We’ve no idea if we’ll be getting a job this of Christmas. Some of the group have gone back to work in pubs and as Healthcare Assistants,” said Martha, who is due to speak on the issue with TDs in Leinster House on Thursday along with a classmate.

“We’re qualified, registered as nurses and were promised jobs. I’ve three kids. I started the degree with three kids. To be left with no job at the end of it, especially when we were promised, is ridiculous.

“I think most of us would go anywhere to get a job. It’s a waste of a degree at this stage. The problem is that they’re not telling us anything, we’ve no idea what’s going on.”

Seven of the 72 graduate nurses have begun working in other hospitals, while nine had contracts approved by the HSE’s CEO for positions in UHG in recent weeks. However, only five of the nine UHG positions are permanent. One of the four temporary contracts is due to finish at the end of November and the other at the end of December.

The remaining 56 graduate nurses are still waiting to receive contracts for jobs in nursing departments across UHG.

“We were told in March that we’d have permanent contracts once we were registered as nurses. We were promised a contract as soon as we finished,” said Martha, who completed her nursing degree as a mature student.

“I requested the critical care unit. I was contacted by a nurse and admin section in the hospital and was offered a job in that unit. It was sent to HR, and they were told they had to wait for approval from the CEO of the HSE. It’s stuck with the CEO of the HSE.

“I called HR this morning (Monday) and they hadn’t heard of any update. It’s because of overspend, that’s what they (HSE) are coming back with.”

Martha is the class representative for the graduate nurses. She put together a video circulated on social media in recent weeks of classmates highlighting the contract situation and has been busy contacting elected representatives from Galway, Roscommon and Clare in the last month.

TDs from County Galway such as Louis O’Hara, Albert Dolan and Máiread Farrell have raised the matter in Government buildings.

“I could see they were short staffed when I was working as an intern in UHG. It’s the patients that will be affected by the hospital being short staffed,” offered Martha.

“It shows a huge lack of trust for future nurses. Students who are in third year are all planning to emigrate and I wouldn’t blame them.

“It’s very much up in the air. A lot of people are coming to me looking for answers and I can’t give them anything.”