A nursing union today accused the Health Service Executive (HSE) of replacing its recruitment ban with another "crude cost-cutting exercise" that is harming staff morale.
A circular sent to hospitals by Martin McDonald, the HSE's national director for human resources, states employment levels will only rise to deliver Government or ministerial-approved service developments.
Siptu nursing official Louise O'Reilly
Siptu's nursing section said the new measures, in place from January 8th, had provoked "outrage" from its members.
These new measures, referred to by the HSE as the Employment Control Framework,
have replaced the recruitment ban in the health services that was imposed by the HSE in September 2007, said Siptu national nursing official Louise O'Reilly.
"Under this framework, none of the posts sanctioned and delayed by the recruitment freeze are now to be filled - these posts are to be subject to further verification," she said.
"Morale among frontline workers in the health service is at an all-time low. This circular is making matters worse for nurses trying to deliver quality patient care under worsening circumstances."
Ms O'Reilly added: "The Employment Control Framework focuses on budgetary constraints, but not once in this five-page document is the word 'patient' mentioned. The very people who are supposed to be at the heart of the health service have been sidelined in favour of budgetary constraints."
She said Siptu's nursing section would seek an urgent meeting with Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney to demand that the posts which were sanctioned be filled as soon as possible.
Labour Party health spokeswoman Jan O'Sullivan said it was clear from the circular that the embargo on recruitment and replacement of staff in the HSE had not been fully lifted.
"The continued staff restrictions are clearly contributing significantly to the renewed problems in A&E units, where the numbers waiting on trolleys are again reaching crisis levels," Ms O'Sullivan said.
"We had been given to believe by both the HSE and Minister Harney that the embargo imposed in September last would be lifted at the end of the year," she added.