More than €26,637,000 was spent on agency staff for Letterkenny University Hospital in the past three years, it has been revealed.
More than €5.4 million of the costs since 2020 include Covid -19 cover and staffing for vaccination centres.
Expenditure on agency staff is rising year on year, according to figures shared with Councillor Ciaran Brogan at a recent meeting of the Regional Health Forum West.
In 2020, the total was €7,391,308, rising to €8,922,005 in 2021 and €10,324,539 in 2022.
The staff positions range from medical staff, registered nurses and health care assistants. Finders fees are also paid for Allied Health Professionals.
Cllr Brogan said the main purpose for seeking the information is to consider what steps are being
taken in order to recruit permanent staff to fill the temporary positions that remain vacant.
“How we can make it more attractive for people working for the HSE as opposed to working for agencies?” Cllr Brogan asked as he called on the forum to look closely at the current system.
Tony Canavan, CEO of Saolta University Health Care Group said: “LUH use a variety of Medical Recruitment Agencies to ensure that all vacant posts are filled with competent Consultants and NCHDs (Non Consultant Hospital Doctors), various types of leave is covered and that there is minimal to no negative impact on patient care or service delivery. Contracts vary in duration and depend very much on the needs of the service at the time and the availability of the candidates.
“All approved consultant posts are advertised for permanent filling by the Public Appointment Service and whilst we are waiting on these permanent appointments or where these campaigns are unsuccessful LUH recruit long term Locum Consultant posts as required to meet the needs to the service.”
