HSE recruitment embargo will have 'devastating impact' in Kilkenny

Sinn Féin TD for Kilkenny, Kathleen Funchion, has expressed alarm at how the severe escalation in the HSE’s recruitment embargo will impact patients in Kilkenny.

She said that this severe escalation is a direct consequence of the Government’s disastrous decision to deliberately underfund the health service in 2024.

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She called on the government to properly fund the health service for the remainder of 2024 and ensure that patients in Kilkenny 'get the quality, timely healthcare they deserve'.

"This severe escalation in the recruitment embargo is exactly what Sinn Féin warned when the government unveiled its budget for 2024," she said.

"It is a direct consequence of the government’s disastrous decision to deliberately underfund the health service in 2024, and its refusal to commit the necessary funding that the health service needs to the end of this year.

"I am concerned that this flawed approach by Government will have a devastating impact on healthcare locally here in Kilkenny."

According to Funchion, retaining and recruiting staff remains a major challenge in CHO5 and in particular Kilkenny and Carlow.

"Across the South-East, 70 physio and 40 OT positions cannot be filled and remain vacant," she said.

"This will have a severe impact on the safety of care and will press staff into unsafe conditions and into an extreme level of burnout. This will cause even more staff to want to leave the health service at the first opportunity."