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HSE refuses to review hospital absenteeism
on 04/09/2012 00:00:00
The Healthstat figures show that Ennis General had the worst absenteeism rate amongst the 28 hospitals evaluated for the second month running in June.
The latest figures available show that the overall absenteeism rate at Ennis General Hospital is just shy of 8%.
Ms Fogarty said: "At a recent meeting with the HSE, we requested an external review as to why the absenteeism rates at Ennis are so high.
"We want to know why the absenteeism rates are so high where 30 miles down the road at Croom hospital, the absenteeism rates are amongst the lowest in the country."
Ms Fogarty said that the "very low morale" amongst nurses working at Ennis hospital may be connected to the high absenteeism rates.
"There is a culture at the hospital where the nurses feel undervalued; that what they say doesn't count. That is part of the problem."
Ms Fogarty said that Ennis General "should be a lovely place to work in".
She said the health authorities turned down the request for the external review. "I believe that an external review is the starting point for addressing the absenteeism rates."
The figures show that the absenteeism rates amongst 'other patient and client care' staff was at 10%.
Other hospitals to feature in the bottom five were Cavan Hospital, the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick, Portlaoise Hospital, and St Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny.
On the high rates at Ennis General, member of the HSE West forum, Cllr Brian Meaney said: "The rates should be subject to a full investigation and the HSE should take corrective action."
In a recent circular to HSE bosses, national director, Laverne McGuinness said that the "present overall HSE absenteeism rate is too high".
"Some areas have achieved significant reductions following a focused approach to the management of absenteeism.
"There are significant variations between various staff grades and categories."