Recruitment ban must be lifted by government 

Local Labour TD Ged Nash has said that the HSE is set to submit a planning application for a new 16-bed modular unit at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. 

“This is good news for our area” said Deputy Nash who added that it was confirmed to him at a meeting with hospital management last week. 

“I met hospital management arising from concerns I and the INMO expressed in regard to recent serious overcrowding at the emergency department. 

“I raised those concerns with the Taoiseach in the Dáil last week and I insisted that those overcrowding issues can only be addressed by the removal of the government-imposed recruitment ban which leaves the Lourdes Hospital woefully short of nurses and other key staff.  

“Last Monday and Tuesday there were 33 admitted patients on trolleys waiting for beds at the Lourdes. This is not acceptable.  

“The very sick and the old are paying the price for the Minister for Health’s failure to secure sufficient money to run the health service in 2024. 

“While the news of 16 additional beds for the Lourdes is very positive, government must lift the jobs ban and be allowed to recruit the nurses and other staff who have already been offered jobs, but can’t be taken on.”