Mayor’s fear that University Hospital Limerick staff will leave for jobs in new Bon Secours

THE HSE “must immediately take measures to retain staff at University Hospital Limerick” said Mayor John Moran.

The call from Limerick’s first citizen comes as the new Bon Secours Hospital in Ballysimon begins recruiting key staff.

A major recruitment drive was announced last week by the state-of-the-art private hospital to double its workforce and expand healthcare services in the Mid-West.

Mayor Moran said UHL is “already chronically understaffed”.

“We have the worst record for overcrowding in the country. Now, Bon Secours is recruiting for their new private hospital  and I am very concerned that many of UHL’s best and most experienced personnel will be tempted to apply for jobs there.”

“This is a crisis waiting to happen. If the HSE takes the passive, ‘Ah sure let’s wait-and-see’ approach, UHL will be left with even fewer staff,” said Mayor Moran.

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He called on the HSE to take proactive measures to incentivise and retain staff at UHL. 

“This must happen immediately, not as part of an independent report after a tragedy has occurred. Limerick has waited long enough,” said Mayor Moran, whose Mayoral Programme contains a significant section on health entitled, A More Healthy Limerick.

“I am committed to addressing the healthcare challenges, even those that fall outside the official scope of the mayor’s powers,” he wrote.

“Limerick will see some additional capacity with the introduction of private hospital facilities,” the Mayoral Programme states. “However, this solution carries the risk of deepening the inequality of treatment and access to healthcare services.”

 HSE Mid-West was asked for comment. There no response at the time of publication.