Lack of contracts for Galway graduate nurses ‘a disgrace’

A SINN Féin Councillor has said it is “lunacy” that recently qualified nurses have yet to receive contracts for permanent positions at University Hospital Galway.

A group of graduate nurses from University of Galway who had been offered permanent positions at UHG, but had not had their contracts approved by the HSE, put together a video that circulated online in recent weeks to highlight the issue.

Cllr Dermot Connolly has said that the HSE needs to get the situation sorted and suggested that the Ballinasloe MD councillors write to the HSE and the Minister for Health on the matter.

“They had been promised positions in nursing and some in psychiatric nursing, and none of them have received their contracts,” said Cllr Connolly at last week’s Ballinasloe MDC meeting.

“There is a glaring need for qualified young professionals in the health service. It seems lunacy to me that qualified people are not being offered contracts.

“I was contacted by people locally about this. It’s a crazy situation that we are dependent on agency staff, and we have people efficient and qualified who are not being snapped up. It’s a madness that needs to stop.”

Cllr Declan Geraghty called the situation “an absolute disgrace” and said that his Independent Ireland party colleague, Roscommon-Galway TD Michael Fitzmaurice, had spoken of the issue in the Dáil.

“There are only five of the 65 positions available that have been filled. It's beyond beggars’ belief what the HSE is getting away with,” said Cllr Geraghty.