LETTERKENNY General Hospital is continuing to cover major vacancies with agency staff, the HSE said today.
The Executive is reportedly reviewing the position in relation to approximately 150 vacancies for Junior Doctors.
Letterkenny and two other hospitals are named as being most likely to be filling vacancies with locums or by other short-term contractual arrangements.
A current overview of all NCHD posts indicates that, at the next rotation of medical staff in July, there will be a need to recruit 450 NCHDs. The situation continues to be monitored closely, said the Executive.
The number of consultant posts has increased by 25 per cent since 2005, from 1,947 to 2,462 in 2011, the HSE has just announced.
The crisis in the health service has led to many junior doctors emigrating.
The complain that some junior doctors are working between 80 and 120 hours per week – will over the European Working Directive of 48 hours.
The HSE has taken a number of steps to attract and retain NCHDs, including increased structured training, international recruitment from India and Pakistan, centralised recruitment to non-training posts and assistance with registration requirements for non-EU doctors.
Junior doctors representatives also want to meet the HSE via the Labour Relations Agency.
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