HSE ‘recognises’ need to improve access to primary care therapies

An internal HSE meeting heard concerns over recruitment and retention of staff providing therapies within primary care.

At a meeting of the HSE performance committee in February, members also discussed waiting lists for therapies in primary care.

Members raised the “workforce challenge” in primary care therapies and how staff can be attracted to join the HSE “rather than private providers”. The committee highlighted that patient advocacy groups should be engaged with, “in relation to private capacity being utilised.”

A HSE spokesperson told the Medical Independent there has been a “significant” expansion in student placements for health and social care professionals (HSCPs), “increasing the number of sites and supports with additional training places.”

“This includes building new education pathways to these professions with new programmes. Some of these programmes are through education and training boards and the development of apprenticeships, which commenced last year with social workers and is due to commence in September with social care workers,” said the spokesperson.

In December 2025, the HSE launched a project to engage with Irish-trained healthcare graduates abroad. The programme’s immediate focus is on nursing and midwifery and all HSCP professions.

The spokesperson said the HSE is delivering the joint Department of Health/HSE programmatic approach to primary care therapy waiting lists. This commits to removing 60,000 people from waiting lists across physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, and occupational therapy, as set out in the HSE National Service Plan 2026.

This approach includes application of a capacity planning methodology and the digitalisation of primary care activity and scheduling. Applying this approach will reduce waiting times for these services to a maximum of 39 weeks, according to the HSE.

“The HSE recognises the need to address waiting times and this is reflected in our commitment to developing the provision of community services through the newly established health regions, in line with Sláintecare,” they added.

“This involves a change in how services are delivered, with the introduction of integrated health areas, along with the retention and recruitment of staff, to ensure that integrated care is provided equitably and efficiently for those who need it.”