*Cllr Cillian Murphy. Photograph: Martin Connolly

Amount of outpatients in the Mid-West are rising while consultant positions remain vacant, a West Clare representative has noted.

A total operating budget of €20.6bn is included in the HSE’s National Service Plan for 2021, an increase of €3.5bn on the previous year’s allocation. Of this €3.5bn uplift, some €1.7bn is for COVID-19 spending and the remaining €1.8bn extra represents an underlying annual increase of 10.6%.

Chief Clinical Officer with UL Hospitals Group, Prof Brian Lenehan explained that budget provides for an addition of 16,000 staff above December 2019 employment levels including over 1,100 medical and dental, more than 3,500 nurses and midwives and 4,000 health and social care professionals.

“It also includes a significant increase in bed numbers within acute settings, including 1,146 additional acute beds by the end of 2021, 135 additional sub-acute beds by the end of 2021, 66 additional critical care beds. Of these six critical care beds have already been opened at UHL,” he stated.

Fifteen consultants have recently started within the group in areas such as Endocrinology, Anaesthesiology, Radiology, Paediatrics, Medicine, Surgery and Trauma & Orthopaedics, Prof Lenehan outlined.

He confirmed, UL Hospitals Group have been approved for a further 32 consultant posts by the HSE to support new developments. As of January 2021, there were 4,533 persons employed at UL Hospitals Group. During 2020, UL Hospitals Group hired an additional 360 persons. “Increases in staff can be attributed to the scale up in staffing to meet the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic”.

Speaking at a Clare County Council briefing with health officials, Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) remarked that the latest figures he had were of 700 unfilled posts nationally which he felt was a slightly concerning backlog. “I see the numbers in outpatients going up and unfilled consultant positions staying the same”.

Prof Lenehan acknowledged the concerns of the Kilkee representative. He said 172 consultant posts were filled either by consultants on permanent contracts, locum contracts and a very small number where consultant is employed by agency. It takes a period of 18-24 months to fill a post by the time approval is granted, he outlined, “unless you get lucky and have somebody who wants a job”.

Related News

drumgeely avenue 1
Drumgeely dipping a source of frustration in Shannon
family law court ennis
Mother accused of attempting to kill daughter awaiting bed at Central Mental Hospital
killaloe bridge bypass 1
Increased costs will not see Killaloe Bridge & Bypass project become like Children's Hospital
scool corofin protest 22-05-23 2
Detailed misinformation slammed by Minister as Scool house mooted for refugees not known to Department
Latest News
martin whyte 1
Commemoration for Martin Whyte in Lisdoonvarna
fiachra roche 22-05-23 3
Roche relishing second stint with Lifford
kilrush juniors golf 1-2
Kilrush Juniors advance to Munster semi-finals
Viking_Day_Cragganowen_1
Viking invasion for Craggaunowen
mossy conor hehir 22-05-23 5
Hehir brothers hopeful for further Avenue glory
Premium
family law court ennis
Mother accused of attempting to kill daughter awaiting bed at Central Mental Hospital
david russell avenue huddle
Ending up empty-handed not an option for Russell or Avenue in defining week
killaloe bridge bypass 1
Increased costs will not see Killaloe Bridge & Bypass project become like Children's Hospital
gary mcnaboe 22-05-23 3
Town derby serving as Cup final will bring 'extra bite' - McNaboe
kilmaley v sixmilebridge 03-07-22 11 noel casey
Kilmaley drop points against Crusheen & Newmarket-on-Fergus

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Scroll to Top
Enable Notifications for the latest news and updates OK No thanks