A HSE recruitment and overtime ban has been labelled 'scandalous' by the Labour party.

The party's health spokesperson has today revealed details of a letter outlining the planned three-moth freeze, in order to get the HSE budget under control.

According to the letter, 'approved development posts' will continue to be recruited.

However, all other recruitment will be paused, and any exceptions will have to be notified to senior officials.

In the letter, the HSE's Deputy Director General Liam Woods said the decision has been taken over the "financial pressure in the system" following high levels of recruitment in 2018.

It's described as a "prudent measure" that has been notified to the Department of Health.

Deputy Alan Kelly is calling on the Health Minister Simon Harris to clarify if he is aware of the policy.

He suggested Minister Harris needs to stop the recruitment ban from happening.

Deputy Kelly said: "I'm now making this public because I believe this is a disgrace.

"The idea that the HSE would bring in a recruitment and an overtime ban when we have such a crisis in our acute hospital divisions, and also across many community organisations... it's scandalous."

He added: "Today, immediately, [Minister Harris] needs to come and say he's instructing the HSE to stop this.

"Why they are doing this, we don't know - but obviously the impact of cost overruns and other budgetary issues are forcing the HSE to act in a way which is totally unacceptable."