Health service savings of more than €600m sought as recruitment freeze begins

announced a freeze on the recruitment of junior doctors, healthcare assistants, home helps and other frontline staff due to financial constraints.

A war of words has opened up within the Coalition about the reasons for this year’s health overspend, which is forecast to exceed €1 billion. One Government source said Mr Donnelly had not “cut his cloth to measure” or provided a plan to rein in health spending, which led to difficult budget negotiations.

With no dedicated budget for new medicines next year, Mr Donnelly is likely to seek savings in the existing budget which could then be redirected into this area. No new staff will be recruited in the health service next year, except where prior commitments have been made. Plans for the addition of another 7,000 staff have been abandoned. Consultants, GP trainees, nurses, midwives, dentists, orthodontists, health and social care professionals, and key ambulance staff are exempted from the freeze.

The Irish Medical Organisation described the decision as dangerous and predicted it would “add to the chaos” in the health service and negatively impact patient care.

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