Galway Bay fm newsroom - Over 60 COVID related absences were recorded across primary care services in the West over the last two months.
As a result of such sick leave, Community Healthcare West has advised that some areas are escalated to providing public health nursing on a ‘Priority 1’ service only.
This involves emergency care such as hospital discharges.
The HSE states that in an effort to address staffing issues, it is actively engaged in recruiting staff nurses, clinical nurse managers, multi task attendants and home-care support workers through bespoke campaigns run locally, as well as international recruitment.
However Seamus Beirne of the HSE advised the executive does not see light at the end of the tunnel with recruitment at this time, as there are very few nurses unemployed due to the demands in the public and private sectors.
Tuam area councillor Donagh Kililea told the HSE Forum West it’s a worrying situation- to hear more, tune in to Galway Bay fm news on the hour
