Agencies received almost €20 million supplying staff to Portlaoise Hospital last year
Over an11-month period last year €19.7 million was spent on Portlaoise Hospital employing agency staff, according to Deputy Brian Stanley.
THE amount of money spent on agency staff at Portlaoise Hospital is concerning, according to local TD Brian Stanley.
During a debate in the Dail last week he pointed out that over an 11-month period last year €19.7 million was spent on agency staff in Portlaoise Hospital.
The Independent Republican Deputy was speaking on the new Health Amendment Bill when he made his comments.
He said: “The issue of agency staff is, in some ways an old chestnut, but it is one we have to deal with. When he took over, the Chief Executive Officer of the HSE Bernard Gloster said he was committed to trying to pare that back. I know that is easier said than done, but the over-reliance on agency staff is concerning, with €276 million spent in 2024. It is a lot of money spent on services, recruitment agencies, etc. That €276 million was only for 11 months of last year. The HSE's records showed that this finance was spent on services such as administration, management, nursing, medical, dental, and paramedical services and supports, as well as maintenance and technical supports.
“In the Midland Regional Hospital, in Portlaoise, a relatively small but very busy hospital, almost €20 million was spent in 11 months last year. Some €19.7 million was spent there on agency staff in 11 months of last year. As I understand it, that spend has never been higher.”
During the course of the senate Deputy Stanley also asked the Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill about the provision of a primary care centre for Portlaoise.
The Portlaoise TD said: “It is promised and it is agreed that it will happen, and everybody is on board with it. It needs the cash - the capital allocation. Portlaoise town now has a population in the region of 30,000. There is a huge catchment area around it. It is probably the only town of its size in the country that does not have a primary care centre. Some of the smaller health centres - in Mountrath, Borris-in-Ossory, Rathdowney and Graiguecullen - need some upgrading as well, and I ask that they not be forgotten about. They need works as well.”
