Fórsa’s Health and Welfare division has raised its concerns with the HSE on the continued use of recruitment agencies to fill positions within the health body, and the union’s growing alarm at the failure of management to adhere to agreed recruitment practices.

Fórsa and the HSE have been engaged in a ‘recruitment and reform’ project since the August 2022. Fórsa maintains that recruitment to the HSE is a core function of staff within the HSE.

However, the union has become concerned by its recent discovery of an increase in the number of external recruitment agencies that appear to be operating, without agreement, in what appears to be partnership with the HSE.

In a letter to the HSE’s director of human resources, national secretary Ashley Connolly questioned the HSE adherence to agreed recruitment practices and highlighted the number of breaches that have been brought to her attention over the last few weeks.   

Ashley said most of the recruitment notices appear to indicate that the positions will be filled by agency workers, and that successful candidates will not be directly employed by the HSE, which she said is a ‘complete breach’ of existing agreements.

Fórsa has sought written confirmation from the HSE that these practices will immediately cease, and to reconfirm the HSE’s commitment to direct employment.

Ashley has sought affirmation of the HSE’s commitment to engagement with local officials and representatives around the use of agency staff in unique circumstances, and assurance that all vacancies will be filled through direct employment in the first instance.

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