The Health Service Executive will be able to hire around 2,200 extra staff next year, its director-general has told an Oireachtas committee, reports RTE.
Bernard Gloster told the Oireachtas Health Committee that the HSE would not exceed its 2023 staffing target by the end of the year and that this was the only reason for suspending recruitment at certain grades.
The committee is examining the funds allocated to health care in the budget, which Gloster described as insufficient.
“The notion that we’re just a complete bunch of wasters of public money, I absolutely reject that. Everyone wants to talk about overspending, but not about the increase of 85% in energy costs the HSE has faced,” he said, reports RTE.
Department of Health Secretary-General Robert Watt told the committee that there has been unprecedented investment in health care over the last few years.
Watt said an additional 178,000 patients were treated this year compared to last year.
The committee will also hear that the drug for Alzheimer’s disease – lekanemab – is to be ready next year.
If approved, lekanemab could cost €100 million based on 4,000 patients needing treatment.
Watt could not confirm which of the 1,500 rapid construction beds announced by the health minister would be delivered in 2024, reports RTE.
Sinn Féin TD David Cullinane said it “is quite obvious” from the Budget allocation “that they are not funded”.
“I would be amazed if we had any of those beds delivered in 2024”, the deputy said, reports RTE.
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.