Staffing remains a significant challenge facing private and voluntary nursing homes across Ireland, according to a BDO/NHI report published today. The report highlights mounting recruitment pressures, particularly around the hiring of non-EEA healthcare workers.
Respondents pointed to the 50/50 non-EEA staffing rule as a particular barrier to recruitment, limiting access to international workers at a time when domestic shortages are acute and where operators are increasing the number of care hours being delivered to each resident by virtue of heightened complexity of care needs, with approximately 60% of residents categorised as either of High or Maximum dependency.
Other key findings in the report include:
Demand for residential care services will continue to grow in the years ahead. However, meeting that demand is increasingly contingent on the sector’s ability to recruit and retain qualified staff. Workforce constraints have become a defining pressure point for operators, who are being asked to deliver more complex care in a challenging funding environment. At the same time, occupancy levels continue to rise, underscoring the urgency of building a sustainable staffing model. Without targeted reform, the long term sustainability of this essential service is at risk.
We must celebrate our ageing population with an ambitious plan across the continuum of care and support. Nursing home care is a critical part of the healthcare continuum, and of how we support people to age with dignity and compassion. This pulse report once again confirms that, while the sector is resilient, the challenges in funding and workforce remain. The trends it reveals, particularly in care complexity, workforce strain, and financial pressures, underscore the urgency for policy reform and sustainable investment.
