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A HOSPITAL ON Dublin’s northside has seen a quarter of its staff leave in just two years.
Clontarf Hospital, a voluntary orthopaedic ‘step down’ institution, has seen some 41 of an estimated 160 staff exit between 2016 and 2017.
The hospital has also been subject to a number of industrial relations disputes at both the Workplace Relations Commission and Labour Court in recent times.
At least one former senior member of staff is also involved in a litigation with the hospital in the High Court at present.
It’s believed that a large number of the staff leaving were employees with long service at working at senior management level. It’s also understood that the staff who have left have been replaced.
Clontarf is part-funded by the HSE, but is not operated on a day-to-day basis by the executive.
Rehabilitation
Primarily an orthopaedic hospital, it offers ‘step-down’ services (eg convalescence from surgical procedures and rehabilitation) from nearby Beaumont Hospital and the Mater Hospital, together with Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital. It also operates a non-urgent x-ray department.
In recent years, the hospital has also served as a rehab facility for elderly patients.
In 2013, the hospital saw two staff leave its employment. In 2014, the figure was five. That jumped to 14 in 2015, 16 in 2016, and 25 in 2017, a nigh-on 13-fold jump in just four years.
The hospital detailed its levels of staff attrition (ie the numbers of people leaving employment) in a written response to a parliamentary question from Sinn Féin TD Peadar Tóibín.
A relatively broad interpretation of staff-patient ratios was detailed in reply to that question, ie no split by specific medical discipline was detailed. It’s unclear if these ratios also include non-medical staff, eg porters, clerical staff.
As at end 2017, per those figures, the ratio is 1:1.41 which equates to about 105 staff for 148 patient beds.
By contrast, in 2013 the figure was 1:1.27, or roughly 101 staff for 128 patient beds.
The overall number of staff at the hospital is understood to be in the region of 160.
“It’s clear that bed-numbers-per-staff-member have significantly increased between 2013 and 2017. This has to have materially increased the workload of staff,” said Tóibín of the situation at the hospital.
“If the radical increase in staff exiting the hospital has not lead to the HSE and the Minister engaging in closer scrutiny of the staff arrangements at the hospital there is a serious difficulty,” he said, adding that it “isn’t possible” to see how such increased attrition “would reflect normal operation”.
It’s believed that in recent times senior staff have raised the perceived issue of staff-patient ratios with management at the hospital, particularly with regard to the care of vulnerable elderly patients.
‘Satisfied’
One such situation ended up at the Workplace Relations Commission after a senior clinical nursing manager was transferred from their ward after raising concerns over a perceived lack of adequate resources and procedures being in place in order to deal with the medical needs of the elderly patients that had recently come under that ward’s remit.
That manager, who took the case in protest at their transfer and who no longer works at the hospital, received a cash award from the WRC in compensation for their experience. The award was subsequently reduced in size by the Labour Court.
The manager was not restored to their previous ward, nor was an apology delivered.
“CHO (Community Healthcare Organisation) Dublin North City and County has regular performance meetings with management from Clontarf Hospital and is satisfied that there are sufficient staff employed to provide safe care,” the HSE said in response to Tóibín’s parliamentary question.
A number of positions at the hospital are currently being advertised on job sites, including openings for staff nurses, an assistant director of nursing, bed manager, and clinical practice support nurse.
The hospital currently has in the region of 160 beds, with overall staffing levels understood to be on a similar level.
TheJournal.ie submitted a detailed request for comment to the hospital regarding staff levels at Clontarf, and querying why the rate of staff attrition has increased to such an extent in such a short period of time.
Questions were also put to the institution regarding staff-patient ratios as they currently stand, with particular emphasis placed on the breakdown by individual medical discipline, eg doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists.
A response had not been received at the time of publication.
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….Sounds like an ideal location for some “social” housing…I wonder would the regeneration committee consider it…could be a solution to a lot of problems
Or a film location for a Sci-fi movie set on Mars
This is what happens when Paul O’Connell sweats…….
It just highlights the fact that we have clowns in government by getting the EU to investigate
Dmc
Is that the only observation you have to make. How does that address or improve the situation.? Wouldn’t it be much more sensible to use a couple of brain cells and come up with something that could be helpful?
If the EPA says the material is non hazardous then most people would accept that position as they are a tough and thoroughly independent Agency.
Sound to me like locals looking for compensation for some unusual reason!
the plant is owned by “Rusal” – not Russell…
@Paddy. Im not a local but I can the factory chimney from my house which is about 20km away. The smoke alone wouldnt be enough to turn my stomach.
The European Waste Catalogue and the EPA assessment of the waste under this Framework would be transparent, I wonder is it the colour of the ponds that has the locals concerned or was environmental risk proven?
some local farmers over the years have had a high incidence of freakish births with their cattle and sheep only since the factory opened. calf’s with no legs, too many legs, too many heads. etc…..makes you wonder.
boring fact…… the company is the biggest single user of electricity in the country.
Simple jobs or smoke
Bauxite red mud is typically high in heavy metal content and in pH. However generally due to its consistency as a marshy difficult to dry mud, leeching is minimal and ponds are unlined in many mud ponds around the world. If contained in a structurally sound way, risk of pollution should be relatively low!
would instead of wouldnt! Damn auto correct!!
We have successfully completed tests on tyre pyrolisis waste and are opening a pilot plant in the UK. The first of its type in the world. Tests have been completed and not limited to. Compression. Tensile. Acoustic. Fire and leaching have been done on the products made with this industrial waste.
We now can offer recycling of Red Mud. So there is no reason now why this potential time bomb should be stored as it is.
Our core products are made in the majority with Cement or on occasions with Alkali Activated Material or Geopolymer. With either 8 to 13 Ph Red Mud or Neutralised Red Mud.
Our products are but not limited to: Paving slabs and Kerbs. Block paving. Roof tiles. Drainage pipes. Turf/soil substitute growing medium. Concrete. Crash barriers. Sea defences. Roads/driveways. Other products mixed with resins and used as a colourant. Kitchen worktops. Shower trays. Fire surrounds. Etc to name but a few.
Our guarantee is that the ROI (Return On Investment) will be repaid through sales of these and other products.
So the whole recycling will not cost the company anything. Its free.
Samples available. 50 to 100 Kilo of Red Mud required shipped to UK.
Feasibility study offered, undertaken at your cost. Cost returned under guarantee if contract agreed.
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