The HSE has suspended the recruitment of doctors, nurses and midwives in hospitals until further notice.
Hospitals have been told no further expressions of interest or formal job offers are to be made. In cases where individuals have been formally offered and accepted posts, these will go ahead.
Hospitals have been told the pause in recruitment will cover consultants, and that all posts are to be put on hold due to a review of staffing and pay bill management.
The recruitment pause has been criticised by unions and Opposition politicians.
A HSE statement said: “Pending agreement and approval of a workforce plan for each hospital group, the groups have been advised of a requirement to pause on any further additions to payroll.
Commitments
“While contractual commitments will need to be honoured, the groups have been advised that no further offers should be made without the signed agreement of the hospital group chief executive officer.”
The HSE said all posts were “being actively monitored at group level and national level to ensure that clinical risks are appropriately managed”.
“Specific exemptions have been determined for areas where funding has been agreed, and in areas of critical care and of emergency services.”
Siptu demanded that the HSE reverse the decision. Its health division organiser, Paul Bell, said the move was "deeply disturbing".
“The HSE never consulted with our members prior to announcing its decision to health service staff on Thursday that it had suspended recruitment.
“The impact of this decision cannot be understated. It will lead to a severe reduction in crucial patient services while critical vacancies across the service remain unfilled.
