Critical care units have ‘significant’ gaps in HSCP and pharmacy workforce

Critical care units are experiencing considerable deficits in their health and social care professional (HSCP) and pharmacy workforce.

Many of the units nationally have no access to medical social workers, occupational therapists or psychologists, found the report by Ms Aine Kelly, HSE National HSCP Lead for Critical Care.

Seven profession-specific surveys were distributed to the 26 adult critical care units nationally.

According to the responses, 100 per cent of units had input from dietetics and speech and language therapy, 96 per cent from physiotherapy, and 88 per cent from pharmacy. However, only 58 per cent had access to occupational therapy, 52 per cent to medical social work, and 18 per cent to psychology.

All of the professions had workforce gaps when compared to national and international workforce standards.

“Barriers to closing workforce gaps are multifactorial and span from generic profession-related barriers to critical care specific barriers,” stated the report.

It noted that the HSE Model of Care for Adult Critical Care (2014) set out minimum national standards for the medical and non-medical workforce (which included five HSCP professions and pharmacy).

“Unfortunately, unlike medical and nursing colleagues, no critical care workforce plan or training programme exists to align with this national document,” stated the report, which was completed in 2024.

The report made seven key recommendations to support the development of a HSCP and pharmacy workforce plan in critical care. These included the revision of 2014 national workforce standards to bring them in line with international standards and ensuring adequate investment in HSCP and pharmacy staffing by healthcare providers.

A number of recommendations related to education and training, including increasing undergraduate numbers and the development of critical care rotations for junior staff.  In addition, it recommended a “career pathway review” for HSCP and pharmacy to ensure staff retention. 

A HSE spokesperson told the Medical Independent the report was presented and shared with the Department of Health, HSE health regions, and senior hospital stakeholders.

“Its findings will be used to inform and support decision-making and workforce planning in line with the implementation of the critical care strategy, as additional critical care beds are brought onstream.”