Budget 2021 boost highlights recruitment shortfall — RCSI

Planned increases in capacity are welcome, but require an associated increase in staff recruitment, training opportunities and employee loyalty

The increase in bed capacity outlined in the 2021 budget must go hand in hand with a commitment to retain the country's medical graduates, the President of the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI). Prof. P Ronan O'Connell, has said.

Almost EUR 4 billion of additional healthcare spending was allocated in the 2021 budget. The funds were made available for an additional 1,146 acute beds, 66 additional intensive care beds and 1,250 communal beds including 600 new rehabilitation beds.

Prof. O’Connell welcomed the announcement of additional health funding this week, saying the additional money was necessary given the combined threats from Covid-19 and expected winter pressures on health care.

Covid-19, he said, has already uncovered existing critical bottlenecks in hospital bed capacity, particularly in intensive care units and in units with high dependency.

Prof. O'Connell warned, however, that planned capacity increases, while welcomed, would not be enough without increasing staff recruitment, training and retention.

"For too long Ireland has exported many of its finest and brightest graduates in medicine, nursing and medical-related professions," he said.

"Now is the time to ensure that all suitably qualified graduates remain in the Irish health system."

Describing the decision earlier this year when the first wave of Covid-19 to offer internships for all graduates of Irish medical schools, Prof. O'Connell described the decision as "invaluable" and urged the Health Service Executive (HSE) to to continue this agreement.

“Cancellation of scheduled care deprives patients of timely treatment, but significantly affects their ability to train staff. It is crucial that training continues during the Covid-19 / winter crisis, ”he continued.

“This is particularly problematic in the fields of surgery, anesthesiology, gastroenterology and other interventional specialties.

“While welcome, additional funding from the National Treatment Purchase Fund for access to scheduled care in the private sector must also facilitate access to specialist training.

"The RCSI looks forward to working with Health Secretary Stephen Donnelly, his department, HSE and hospital groups to ensure the best use of the additional resources and a safer and fairer future in Irish healthcare."