CUH mental health unit spent €4m on agency staff, with annual cost tripling in six years
The acute mental health unit at Cork University Hospital has spent more than €4m on temporary agency staff, with the annual cost almost tripling since 2019.
These new HSE figures come just two months after the Mental Health Commission (MHC) raised serious concerns about staffing levels at the unit.
Agency staff are external healthcare workers who are hired on a temporary basis by the HSE, usually when they are short-staffed.
They can be hired when a service lack specific skills.
At this unit, the agency bill covers nurses, medical staff, administration workers, and last year also housekeeping staff.
The total bill for 2019 was €373,017, but by last year this had reached €1.13m.
Additionally, in a sign this trend is set to continue, the bill for January to March of this year stood at €213,484.
Psychiatric nurses made up the bulk of the numbers, with €622,169 spent last year, up from €197,726 in 2019.
In the first three months of this year alone, the unit spent €118,256 on nursing staff.
In another sign of pressures on recruitment, the unit had to hire agency staff for housekeeping, at a cost of €1,060 last year.
The data was shared in response to a parliamentary query from Pádraig Rice, Social Democrats health spokesman.
'This colossal increase in agency spending must be reversed,' he said.
We need to see these posts converted into permanent HSE positions and put a stop to this growing overreliance on outsourcing to the private sector.
He said full-time permanent staff were 'not only better value for money, but they would provide the kind of consistency and skills-mix that this unit so desperately needs'.
Mr Rice raised these concerns in light of the MHC report, saying this found the unit non-compliant with necessary staffing numbers.
In a letter released with the figures, Declan Cronin, acting head for mental health services, acknowledged the 'financial challenges' this way of working brings.
He said agency staff were used to 'ensure patient safety and maintain service delivery, particularly during staffing shortages, unplanned absences, or in areas with recruitment challenges'.
These staff are needed to offer a flexible service and specialist skills, Mr Cronin added.
He also said this helped maintain care standards and legal staffing requirements.
'While this approach supports continuity of care, it also presents financial challenges, prompting ongoing efforts to reduce reliance on agency staffing,' he said.
Earlier this year, the daughter of a patient at the unit echoed the MHC's concerns.
Susan Keane had noticed the impact of staff shortages during her mother's stay.
'When I read the report, I felt less alone, I felt this is not just a poor service that my mother is experiencing,' she told the Irish Examiner.
'People need to know, I feel if this is happening to my mother, it is everyone."
"And not everyone has an advocate acting for them," she added.
'The whole time I'm just thinking, is she going to have another fall, is she going to fall again?'
Read More
European award to allow 10% of cancer patients in CUH to access clinical trials
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Times
4 hours ago
- Irish Times
From 20 cigarettes a day for 55 years to finally quitting: ‘I took it up, thinking I was the big man'
For 55 years, Mick Staunton smoked more than 20 cigarettes a day. His wife, Olivia, wasn't far behind him, having taken up smoking 46 years ago and smoking at least 10 a day ever since. However, proving that you are never too old to quit, the Roscommon couple have finally ditched the habit and are feeling much healthier as a result. 'I took it up, like every young fella, thinking I was the big man,' said the 74-year-old. 'Olivia (71) was similar, and with the two of us smoking, it became harder and harder to quit, even though we tried a few times.' The retired garda says that he and his wife, who used to work in the Civil Service, attempted to stop smoking on numerous occasions throughout their lives, but knew they needed support to stop for good. READ MORE 'Whenever I tried, I would only last a few months before going back on them [cigarettes] and Olivia was the same,' said the father of five. 'We tried to go cold turkey and were using sweets and chewing gum whenever we wanted a cigarette, but they were a poor substitute. So last year we contacted the [ HSE ] QUIT team and the support we got was the biggest thing to help us through.' More than 17 per cent of the Irish population are smokers, with 14 per cent smoking daily, and 4 per cent occasionally. With 20 per cent of the 25- to 34-year-old age bracket smoking, this demographic has the highest number of smokers. However, these figures have declined since the first Healthy Ireland Survey in 2015, when the figure was 32 per cent. This decrease could be down to more available supports, as, according to the HSE, smokers are four times more likely to quit successfully if they use a combination of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) in the form of sprays, mists, lozenges and patches, along with support from a 'stop smoking adviser'. Smoking is a leading cause of preventable death and significantly impacts physical and mental health, so giving up can lead to improved health, reduced disease risk, and better overall wellbeing, including increased life expectancy and reduced stress. 'Smoking is dangerous, and the odds facing people who smoke are stark - 1 in 2 will die of a smoking-related disease; on average, people who smoke will die 10 years earlier and are at increased risk of cancer, heart attack, stroke, lung disease and many other debilitating diseases,' said Dr Paul Kavanagh, HSE public health consultant and clinical adviser to the Tobacco Free Ireland Programme. [ Smoking ban has important lessons for Ireland's approach to climate issues Opens in new window ] However, Dr Kavanagh says it's not all bad news, as these odds can be changed when people stop smoking. 'We see changes in physiological measures like heart rate, blood pressure and exhaled carbon monoxide within days; breathing and exercise tolerance will improve within weeks; and over the coming months and years, the risk of smoking-related disease reduces dramatically.' Mick Staunton with his wife Olivia in their garden in Castlerea. Photograph: Arthur Ellis According to the HSE, other health benefits include increased life expectancy as smoking takes an average of 10 to 15 years off a person's life, reduced risk of life-threatening diseases, improved respiratory function, circulation and oxygen levels, and better skin, teeth and hair. Quitting smoking also helps with improved mood and reduces feelings of stress, anxiety and depression. Giving up also helps to improve fertility, reduces risk of pregnancy complications, offers protection for loved ones from second-hand smoke and creates financial savings as it can 'free up a significant amount of money'. Research from Healthy Ireland Statistics shows that 17 per cent of the population smokes cigarettes, while another 8 per cent uses e-cigarettes, either daily or occasionally. These figures have not changed since 2023, and Martina Blake, national lead for the HSE Tobacco Free Ireland Programme, says NRTs can help more people to quit. 'These licensed medicines safely give you just enough nicotine to relieve cravings and withdrawal symptoms, while reducing your dependence on nicotine gradually,' she said. 'They help you to cope with cravings and withdrawal symptoms, but do not contain the poisonous and cancer-causing chemicals in tobacco smoke, such as tar and carbon monoxide.' [ Quitting smoking isn't easy, but these tricks could help Opens in new window ] Men remain more likely to smoke than women (20 per cent of men smoke as opposed to 15 per cent of women), and Mick Staunton says it's never too late to think about giving up. 'We both wish we did it years ago, as we're flying it now.'
Irish Times
12 hours ago
- Irish Times
Employee suspensions lasting more than a decade ‘extraordinarily rare', say lawyers
The paid suspension of an employee lasting more than a decade is 'extraordinarily rare' but can indicate the seriousness of alleged wrongdoing, according to people working in employment law. The Irish Times reported on Monday that two Health Service Executive employees have been suspended with pay or have been on administrative leave for 11 years. Generally, in employment, suspensions are a precautionary measure during a workplace investigation into alleged misconduct. They can last for months if not years in some rare circumstances. However, one breaching two years is considered unusual, so how could a suspension last 11 years? Although employers are now encouraged to avoid suspensions where possible due to the potential reputational damage suffered by the off-work employee, they are sometimes necessary, particularly where safety concerns are at play, according to Alan Eustace, an assistant professor of private law at Trinity College Dublin. READ MORE Allegations at the more serious end of the scale may require a 'more robust procedure' that can result in lengthy suspensions, he said. Dr Eustace, who has a particular interest in employment law, said suspensions of employees subject to allegations of misconduct can often be necessary if their presence is deemed to be 'potentially dangerous'. 'In general, it's quite rare to find people on very lengthy suspensions, unless there's been an extremely serious allegation made against them, and the investigation into that case is extremely complicated,' he said. While all employees have a right to fair procedure, through thorough and fair investigations of alleged misconduct, this procedure can be made more complex in the public sector where collective agreements can see procedures vary between roles. [ Two HSE staff suspended with pay or on administrative leave for 11 years Opens in new window ] On the other hand, employees can take legal action to halt investigations. If the employer in question is found to be proceeding incorrectly or unfairly, they can be ordered to restart the investigation. Sick leave, potentially due to stress as a result of the investigation, can also result in the process being paused entirely until they are well enough to engage again, he said. While suspending an employee can be costly, it can end up 'cheaper than sacking them unfairly and being sued for that later on', Dr Eustace said. Due to its potential reputational damage to the employee in question, suspension, even with pay, has become 'much harder to do', according to Anne O'Connell, principal of employment law firm AOC Solicitors. Historically, there was little preventing employers from suspending employees during investigations in the past, once the employee was paid. However, in the last decade or so, more stringent steps have been required to do so. A botched or rushed investigation could result in costly legal proceedings down the line, she said, and an investigation must run its course before any disciplinary action, including dismissal. 'You can't just fire somebody before a full investigation is complete, they have a right to fair procedures,' she said, stressing that the outcome of investigations may not warrant dismissal and any allegations could be deemed unfounded. Unforeseen events, such as relevant court proceedings, can delay investigations, she said. Regardless, '11 years is very rare – extraordinarily rare', she said.
Irish Examiner
15 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
ieExplains: What is the new covid variant and is it in Ireland?
Is there a new strain of covid? Yes. It is called NB.1.8.1, and is a sub-variant of the Omicron variant. Omicron was the dominant strain in Ireland at the end of 2021 and 2022. The new strain was first detected in January 2025. What is the new strain? In May, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated the NB.1.8.1 strain of covid as a 'variant under monitoring", and the public health risk posed by it is "evaluated as low at the global level". It said: "Currently, approved covid vaccines are expected to remain effective to this variant against symptomatic and severe disease. "Despite a concurrent increase in cases and hospitalisations in some countries where NB.1.8.1 is widespread, current data does not indicate that this variant leads to more severe illness than other variants in circulation." The new strain comprised of 13.6% of all cases in the week ending May 18. While the percentage remains low, this is an increase from 0.7% in the week ending April 20. Have there been any cases in Ireland yet? Yes. As of June 9, there are 19 cases linked to this variant of the virus detected in Ireland. The first case was detected here on April 16. In the five-week period from April 20 to May 24, the new strain accounted for 13.6% of all sequenced cases — compared to 4.3% in the previous five weeks. Those figures are based on GISAid sequence data. GISAid is a global science initiative that monitors and provides access to data on influenza viruses. In response to a query from the Irish Examiner, the HSE said that based on WHO data and on the mutation profile, there is no evidence of increased severity or impact on vaccine effectiveness against severe disease. The HSE added that since the end of March 2025, levels of covid have shown a slow but steady increase. However, "levels of hospitalisations, ICU admissions, and deaths remain low". Is it the only covid variant? No. There are still multiple covid variants. In a statement last week, the WHO said that the variants "continue to evolve". They said: "Between January and May 2025, there were shifts in global SARS-CoV-2 variant dynamics. At the beginning of the year, the most prevalent variant tracked by WHO at the global level was XEC, followed by KP.3.1.1. "In February, circulation of XEC began to decline while that of LP.8.1 increased, with the latter becoming the most detected variant in mid-March. Since mid-April, the circulation of LP.8.1 has been slightly declining as NB.1.8.1 is increasingly being detected." At the moment, six variants are being tracked. What are the symptoms of the new covid variant? Common symptoms align with typical Omicron subvariants from the height of the pandemic in 2021. They include fatigue, fever, muscle aches, and a sore throat. Writing in The Conversation, Australian virologist Lara Herrero said: "The evidence so far suggests NB.1.8.1 may spread more easily and may partially sidestep immunity from prior infections or vaccination. These factors could explain its rise in sequencing data. "But importantly, the WHO has not yet observed any evidence it causes more severe disease compared to other variants." The WHO does note that the global public health risk associated with covid remains high. There has been evidence of "decreasing impact on human health" throughout 2023 and 2024. The HSE has said that anyone with covid symptoms, even mild ones, should stay at home until 48 hours after their symptoms are mostly or fully gone. People should also avoid contact with other people, especially people at higher risk of severe covid.
