‘Top Heavy With Managers While HSE Cuts Frontline Services – Crowe

Dublin South West TD Seán Crowe has said  that reports that the numbers of Health Service Executive senior managers in hospitals have continued to rise are “hard to accept given the cutbacks to frontline services over the same period. Crowe who is also an active member of the Tallaght Hospital Action Group said it didn’t make any medical or ethical sense that you would systematically introduce more managers when key medical personnel  posts are being discarded

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“It is clear to any fool that the Health Service Executive needs root and branch reform and that the new Health Minister Leo Varadkar must ensure that any reform places the needs of patients at the centre of his health policy

“Most people involved in the health system will be appalled to hear that the number of senior managers in HSE hospitals has increased by over 10.9% between 2011 and 2014. Middle management grew by 4.4% while over the same equivalent period key medical including nursing 2.8% and support staff including health care assistants, and nurses aids levels fell dramatically.

“The HSE has tried to argue that these roles are essential for an organisation of its size, but unfortunately they seem to fail to grasp the most basic understanding that medical posts including nursing and support staff, are equally, if not vitally more important roles in any health delivery system.

“What we have seen emerge is a HSE top heavy management orientated system while frontline staff that directly deal with health issues are shredded. The HSE that former Minister James Reilly told so many times was not fit for purpose thrived and replicated its behavior under his stewardship.

“The crucial question following these latest figures centres around what, if anything is going to change following the appointment of a new Health Minister.

“Will he change current top heavy management structure or introduce a more enlightened health centered system that puts prevention and treatment at the core of its primary objectives.”