The Government is coming under fire again for the recruitment ban in the country's hospitals.

The Irish Nurses' and Midwives' Organisation (INMO) has said January was the worst month for overcrowding on record.

INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha has said the HSE is failing to tackle the crisis due to its hiring ban.

"The HSE have introduced a recruitment ban on staff which makes absolutely no sense," she said.

"So, we're trying to develop a service, we're trying to build a service and the employer is working against us and it's just impossible for people to work continue to work  in these environments and they're saying that to us now very, very regularly.

"It's just not safe any longer for them and it's just not possible for them to provide safe care."

Almost 14,000 people were left waiting on a trolley last month.

HSE response

The HSE responded with a statement:

"The HSE is acutely aware that even one person on a trolley is too many and reducing trolley figures continues to be a particular focus," a spokesperson said.

"Specifically regarding recruitment, there has been significant growth in the HSE workforce.

"In addition, agreement reached with Government in 2024 in relation to the HSE Pay and Numbers Strategy enabled the HSE to stabilise its workforce numbers and also allowed it to increase to 129,000 whole time equivalent staff by the end of 2024 (excluding disability services) which was unprecedented.

"We welcome the additional developments to be funded in 2025, which will add additional HSE staff to our overall workforce."

Main image: A hospital worker wheels a patient on a trolley through a ward after an NHS operation. 5 May 2016. Alamy.com