• However, it warns that publication of the HSE Service Plan for 2025 confirms that an effective recruitment freeze remains in place and health services will continue to struggle to meet patient needs

Friday January 24, 2025. The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) has congratulated Jennifer Carroll MacNeill on her appointment as the new Minister for Health but warned that the healthcare measures announced recently in the Programme for Government lack any detail on resources or implementation dates and are, in many cases, a repeat of previous commitments that have not been met.

It said the HSE Service Plan for 2025, published just a day before the Programme for Government, clearly demonstrates that we will see no significant increase in capacity with just 300 beds planned for the coming year and no plan to address the chronic medical workforce shortages throughout the system.

The IMO said that 2025 will see an effective recruitment freeze, unsafe and dangerous pressures within our Emergency Departments, patients waiting too long for care in our acute and community services and General Practice facing increased and unsustainable demands.

Speaking today, Dr Denis McCauley, President of the IMO, said: “On behalf of the IMO, I would like to congratulate Deputy Carroll MacNeill on her appointment as Minister for Health. We look forward to meeting with her soon to start work on bringing the aspirations of the recently announced Programme for Government to reality.

“However, it is important the new Minister appreciates that we must very quickly see a detailed implementation plan with a corresponding commitment to funding. Doctors and other healthcare professionals are struggling to deliver care in environments that are under-resourced, under-staffed and under pressure.  Patients all around the country are facing problems accessing care whether that be in General Practice, mental health services, acute hospital services or community services. 

“The IMO has long campaigned for adequate capacity, a funded medical workforce plan and investment in General Practice – we will be seeking to engage with Minister Carroll MacNeill on the implementation of these targets and a realistic multi-annual funding programme for our health services that meets the needs of the population and allows doctors to deliver timely care.”