Two health workers sacked over persistent absenteeism

THE DIRECTOR for the HSE in the West area has confirmed that two health workers have been sacked in recent months as part of a “get tough” stance on absenteeism. John Hennessy said the two employees in “support services” lost their jobs over persistent absenteeism.

Last September, the HSE’s Assistant National Director for Finance, Liam Minihan, said 1,100 HSE staff were out sick every day in the HSE West area which covers 10 counties, stretching from Donegal down to Limerick and North Tipperary.

On the recent sacking of the two health workers, Mr Hennessy said: “They were simply unable to render reliable service to the organisation that was paying them.”

Mr Hennessy said the disciplinary procedures were invoked when there wasn’t adequate explanation for an absence or where there was persistent abuse.“It does move into a four-stage process: repeated warnings, letters, final warnings, but eventually it does reach the final stages and it just so happens that we have had two in the recent two or three months,” he said.

“There has been a very tough line for some time in relation to persistently high levels of absenteeism and particularly where there would be a perception by our managers that there would be an abuse of the sick leave scheme.

“There is an awareness of the importance of minimising the levels of absenteeism and realising the lost opportunity that absenteeism represents. For every hour lost through sick leave absenteeism, there is a cost and an opportunity lost in patient care and frontline services,” Mr Hennessy said.

Chairman of the HSE West Forum, Cllr Padraig Conneely (FG), said yesterday: “It is very regrettable that two people have lost their jobs due to absenteeism in the west and all procedures were gone through before such drastic action was taken. However, this will serve as a warning to others engaged in abusing the sick leave scheme.”

Galway University Hospital (GUH) is the largest hospital in the HSE West area and, according to a spokeswoman for HSE West, “absenteeism rates at GUH are decreasing significantly”.

She said yesterday: “In January 2011 the absenteeism rate was 7.69 per cent; the overall average for 2011 was 5.2 per cent. The trend in 2012 is as follows: January 5.30 per cent, February 4.92 per cent, March 4.43 per cent and April 4.45 per cent.

“We are confident of achieving a rate closer to the national target of 3.5 per cent over the coming months.”