A third of jobs empty on Laois health team that cares for children

A third of jobs are vacant in a service that the HSE says provides specialist support for children with disabilities who need extensive health care. 

The shortage of staff in the service Laois children's disability network team (CDNT) was revealed by Laois Offaly TD Brian Stanley in the Dáil where he outlined many other staff shortages in the health services.

The HSE says the team provides specialised support and services for children who have a disability and complex health needs associated with their disability. The CDNT supports a child's development, wellbeing and participation in family and community life.

A team should include, psychologists, physiotherapists, social workers and speech and language therapists. Some teams also have access to dietitians, family support workers and nurses.

The HSE says the team aims to help children and young people to develop, learn, and take part in everyday activities. 

Dep Stanley outlined the situation in Laois to Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly. 

“In Laois-Offaly, there is chronic understaffing of posts in vital services and supports. A total of 42% of all CDNT posts are vacant in County Laois while in County Offaly the figure is 35%.

 "In CHO 8, the area that covers the midlands and counties Louth and Meath, there are huge vacancies across the board, including 32% of speech and language therapy posts; 36% of occupational therapy posts; 41% of psychologist posts; and 55% of dietician posts. That is just a flavour of what is happening on the front line,’’ he said.

He said the embargo on recruitment has been described by the INMO as a kick in the teeth.

"The Government's decision in the budget to underfund our health service means that 7,000 essential posts have been scrapped, placing a huge burden of work on struggling front-line staff,’’ he said.

 The TD quoted figures about CHO 8 which includes Laois and which have been supplied to the Committee for Public Accounts which he chairs.

"There are ten vacant posts in medical care; 30 in nursing and midwifery; 31 in health and social care; 15 in inpatient and client care; and 14 in community services.

"Yet, the same document outlines that there are 34 more management posts than are needed. That is 34 additional staff in management and administration, according to the HSE's own data. The decision to underfund front-line services is already creating difficulty and will continue to do so. Let there be no doubt that this will put the health of patients at risk.

“Job offers to health service workers have been withdrawn. Advertisements for vacant posts have been removed from websites and the Department has sent a message to those healthcare workers working abroad to stay where they are and not to come home. In fact, healthcare workers are being trained here to leave to work in other systems,’’ he said.

Dep Stanley said Sinn Féin wants the recruitment embargo lifted, a properly funded health service and an urgent Revised Estimate for 2024.

Laois rivers so blocked you could walk on them, Councillor claims

"The Minister himself actually looked for extra money. We both know that it is needed. Front-line services are falling down and the gaps in the service need to be filled," the TD told the Minister.