Opening of Bons is on HR risk register in HSE Mid West

The imminent opening of Bon Secours Limerick is recorded on the human resources (HR) risk register in HSE Mid West, the Medical Independent has learned.

However, a HSE Mid West spokesperson said “the volume of candidates” applying for vacancies in new developments at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) had “not presented any challenges”.

The spokesperson said a new 96-bed block and second 16-bed block at UHL were “progressing at pace” and are due to open in 2025. This will provide over 500 new opportunities for permanent employment. 

“The commitment by Government to the Acute Hospital Inpatient Bed Capacity Expansion Plan 2024-2031 and specifically to additional beds in the Mid West is critical to helping us achieve parity of access for patients and providing an improved working environment for our staff. 

“The opening of Bon Secours Limerick is indeed a significant development and is listed on the local HR risk register; however, to date the volume of candidates applying to current vacancies within the new developments at UHL has not presented any challenges.”

To mitigate potential loss of staff, strategies such as “targeted recruitment campaigns, opportunities for internal promotion, and collaborative workforce planning are explored”.

There are currently 36 vacant medical posts in UHL and these are in an “active recruitment process”.

“The deficit of permanent nursing posts runs at approximately 5.5 per cent and we will welcome new applicants and graduate nursing students in Q3 of 2025 to support our expanding nursing workforce.”

The spokesperson added: “We are committed to the retention and development of staff at University Hospital Limerick and other sites across HSE Mid West, engaging with our staff, providing professional development opportunities, and building on career pathways as initiatives to support staff retention and morale.”

In March, Bon Secours Health System announced it was creating 300 new jobs at its private hospital in Ballysimon, Limerick, which is due to open in autumn.