Galway’s main public hospitals are short as many as 800 staff, including more than 170 nursing and medical professionals –  described by Galway West TD Noel Grealish as ‘a huge hole in staffing levels’.

The Health Services Executive (HSE) has confirmed to the Independent TD that there are currently 455 staff posts vacant at University Hospital Galway and Merlin Park University Hospital.

But actual staff shortages at the two hospitals are much greater when those who are not at work due to absenteeism and maternity leave are added to the total, bringing it to around 800.

“This is a huge number for any organisation to try and cope without, much less our main public hospitals, and this is impacting on their ability to provide the service we should expect,” said Deputy Grealish.

In reply to Parliamentary Questions to the Minister for Health, the HSE has informed Deputy Grealish that of the 455 vacant staff posts, 130 are health & social care professionals, 125 nursing, 42 medical/dental, 71 management/admin, 63 patient & client care and 24 general support staff.

Chris Kane, General Manager, Galway University Hospitals, also confirmed that staffing levels at the two hospitals currently stand at 4,229 — having increased steadily from the total of 3,607 in 2019.

Absenteeism at the GUH facilities stands at 5.63%, meaning that almost 240 staff are out of work at any one time for various reasons, while 100-plus are on maternity leave — on average, 14 employees commence maternity leave each month.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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