GALWAY PUBLIC HOSPITAL STAFF SICK FIGURES DESCRIBED AS 'ALARMING'
Date Published: 12-Apr-2012
Sick leave at Galway public hospitals is above the national average.
More than five per cent of staff at Galway University hospital and Merlin Park hospital took sick leave in the first two months of the year.
That's compared to a national average of three point five per cent.
Out of a total workforce of three thousand, and ninety four, 164 staff of Galway University hospital and Merlin Park hospital were on sick leave in January, and 152 in February.
City Councillor Padraig Conneely, who is Chairperson of the HSE Regional Forum has described the figures as 'alarming'.
He's asking the Galway hospitals to stipulate how many of the sick days were taken on Fridays or Mondays, and suggests some hospital staff may ring in sick to extend their weekend.
He says the culture of ringing in sick is higher in Galway than the national average, and needs to be stopped