There is no question that gaps will emerge in the delivery of primary care services as a result of staff leaving and not being replaced, the head of the HSE, Cathal Magee, said today.
The Dáil Public Accounts Committee heard today that about 500 personnel working in primary care services have either applied or expressed an interest in leaving the HSE before pension changes take effect at the end of February. Of the 500 staff who may leave, 195 are nurses.
Mr Magee said the HSE had approval and funding to carry out some recruitment, which would be targeted in areas where this was needed.
Earlier this month, Mr Magee acknowledged frontline services for patients would be hit as health spending is to be reduced by €750 million in the year ahead.
The HSE has sought to mitigate the effect of the cuts by putting in place new efficiency measures and work practice changes. However, the effects of budget cuts and scaling back in staffing levels will be felt across the board.
The HSE anticipates that more than 3,300 staff will leave the organisation this year. Mr Magee said that, as 85 per cent of its personnel worked on the front line, this level of resource reduction could not be absorbed without it affecting the delivery system.