HSE HOPEFUL OF ARAS ATTRACTA RESOLUTION
The HSE says it has plans to hire more staff at Aras Attracta in Swinford, Co, Mayo but there is a shortage of nursing and social care staff across Europe.
The executive says it is hopeful a resolution can be found before residents are affected by a HIQA proposal to cancel registration for part of the facility, which caters for people with challenging behaviour.
The HSE says moves are being made to rectify the situation, with 37 more staff recruited since January and a further 25 more posts approved.
Bernard Gloster – interim chief officer for the HSE West Region – says it is hard to say when those jobs will be filled.
“We are proposing to recruit another 25 specifically to open some of the vacant bungalows and to reduce the numbers of people that are in the existing bungalows” he said.
“How long will it take to recruitment them? Well last week we were talking about health and social care services across Ireland, particularly in relation to nursing and professional social care staff”.
“And there is a shortage of those grades – not just in Ireland, but leaves the pressure on it right across Europe” he added.
