Fears that exodus will hit local health services

A stark warning that community services like public health nursing and home help services in Meath will be severely affected by the early retirement incentive scheme has been issued by a nursing union this week. Paul Bell, SIPTU's health division organiser, said the retirements of long-serving and high calibre health staff would indiscriminately effect all services, as over 700 healthcare workers get set to retire in the north-east before 29th February next. He warned that, in Meath, significant numbers of public health and community service staff were leaving, and replacement of these key workers may not be possible before 29th February. "We are very concerned about these positions," he said. Meath County Council will lose 13 staff members before 29th February. According to a spokesperson, the ensuing vacant positions will be spread across all grades and geographical areas in the county. "The council is currently assessing the situation with regard to some key professional/technical posts becoming vacant and will be seeking sanction for the filling of some of these positions," the spokesperson said. Meath INTO representative, Colin Quigley, said the number of teachers leaving was still unclear as it was individual boards of management which would have those figures.