HSE to look at introducing hospital theatre assistants

Minister for Health Leo Varadkar has asked the HSE to examine the introduction of a new grade of staff to be known as theatre assistants in the public health service to alleviate a shortage in hospitals.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has argued there are more than 250 theatre staff nurse posts currently vacant in Irish hospitals.

The appointment of theatre assistants is expected to be considered as part of the HSE’s service plan for 2016 – the agreement it reaches with the Government on how its €13 billion budget for next year will be spent.