HSE West in campaign to woo emigrant nurses back

The Health Service Executive (HSE) West will engage in campaigns to attract overseas Irish nurses back to work in Galway’s public hospitals.

Tony Canavan, Chief Operating Officer, Saolta University Health Care Group, said Irish-trained nurses are highly skilled and are in high demand abroad.

He conceded that it was difficult for the HSE to compete with the salaries on offer for nurses in the NHS in Britain but Irish nurses in the UK are willing to come home for family reasons, cultural ties and for further training opportunities.

Mr Canavan said the HSE was continually trying to attract Irish nurses to come home. He made the comments at the recent HSE West regional health forum meeting in response to queries from County Councillor Mary Hoade.

Mr Canavan confirmed that in the six weeks since March 24, 2015, some 33 nursing posts have been filled at Galway University Hospitals, which includes Merlin Park and UHG.

Recruitment campaigns are ongoing to hire staff nurse and promotional nursing grades, and for nurse practice development co-ordinators, and director of public health nursing.

He added that new national campaigns are planned for this summer for staff nurses in the areas of mental health, intellectual disability, midwives, and staff nurse for children.

Mr Canavan added: “An international recruitment campaign, targeting the UK in the first instance, is being launched in June with a special focus on bringing Irish trained nurses back to Ireland. Specialist staff nurse posts in theatre and Intensive Care Unit in Galway have already been filled by international recruitment and further appointees will arrive during the summer.”