The Health Service Executive (HSE) in the west has confirmed that it has dismissed three people in the past 12 months in response to persistent absenteeism.
In addition, HSE assistant national director for human resources Francis Rogers has confirmed that 104 other staff have been removed from the sick leave scheme.
In a report outlining measures tackling absenteeism in HSE West, which stretches from Donegal to Limerick, Mr Rogers added that cases involving 10 staff members were at an advanced stage in disciplinary procedures. He also confirmed that 412 reviews of sick leave had taken place with individuals where the trend had caused concern to managers.
Mr Rogers said the various measures were “an assurance about how serious we are taking this issue right across area west”.
The chairman of the HSE West Forum, Pádraig Conneely (FG), said: “I would regret anyone losing their job, but I don’t like the system being abused and I am glad to see you taking stronger action.”
The action being taken by managers in HSE West is in contrast to the HSE Dublin Mid-Leinster area, which confirmed that no member of staff had lost their job “as a result of absenteeism”.
Mr Conneely said HSE West’s action on absenteeism “shows that the public sector is not going to be a soft touch in the future”.
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