Retirement, emigration and lack of homes among reasons Cork healthcare staff quit

Almost 1,000 people quit their jobs in just three Cork hospitals, HSE figures have shown, with reasons such as emigration, commuting difficulties, work/life balance and dissatisfaction in the role cited for the decision.

Some have also left because their contracts were ended, but a spokesperson for the healthcare profession has said that some of these could have renewed their contracts but were unable to find accommodation and had to return to their home countries as a result.

A total of 965 staff who worked in the hospital sector had left their roles in either Cork University Hospital, Bantry General Hospital, Mallow General Hospital, or the regional support functions.

However, there is no breakdown as to how many had left each particular hospital.

The records, provided to The Echo on foot of a Freedom of Information request, show that the most common reason for staff leaving hospital settings was the end of their contract, which was listed as the reason in 555 cases.

The next most common was family/caring/work life balance, listed as the reason in 79 instances, followed by reaching the retirement age in 70 cases, while three people had also taken early retirement.

Another career opportunity was listed in 50 cases, while a further 42 people were categorised as leaving for a new role, while one was going to another health agency.

In total, 69 people left because they were emigrating — 29 of these were doing so for another career opportunity, while 40 listed a desire to travel as their main reason.

In the case of 49 staff, they left due to the end of their training, while 10 were returning to education, and nine were undertaking further education for a career change.

Six people left their job due to commute/transport difficulties, four because they were unsatisfied in the role, and two due to the cost of living.

The staff who left were across several categories: General support, health and social care professionals, nursing and midwifery, management and administration, medical and dental, and patient and client care.

There were a further 381 staff who left jobs in the community healthcare sector in Cork, across the community health and wellbeing, mental health, primary care, social care, and regional support functions sectors.

Of these, the most common reason was reaching the retirement, which was listed for 135 staff members as their reason for leaving, while one other was taking early retirement.

Personal reasons were also frequently mentioned, with 39 staff leaving due to the work/life balance and 34 due to family/caring responsibilities. Eight people said they were leaving as they were unsatisfied in their role and five due to difficulties with their commute or transport to work.

MOVING ON

In total, 44 staff left due to the end of their contract, while 29 left as it was the end of their training or they were moving to a new location or role for training.

A total of 18 staff left due to a career opportunity, and 15 for a new role, while 12 did so for a more senior role. Six were returning to education and another six were undertaking further education for a career change.

In total, 18 people left as they were emigrating, eight of whom said they were doing so for their career and 10 to travel.

A HSE spokesperson told The Echo: “When staff are leaving the HSE, they are asked to complete a leaving form and to advise as to the reason for leaving on the form. In some instances, staff do not advise as to the reason for leaving the HSE, therefore the records are incomplete.”

Of the 1,361 total staff who have left the healthcare settings, almost half, 44%, of these were due to their contract ending, with this listed as a reason more commonly in hospital than community settings.

Some of these roles may still require replacement though, as Janet Baby Joseph, a representative with the Cork branch of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, previously told The Echo that the housing crisis in Ireland results in many staff recruited from abroad leaving as soon as they can, usually at the end of their contract.

The HSE hires international nurses through recruitment agencies at a cost of approximately €11,000 each, with additional costs for orientation and initial accommodation assistance understood to bring the total expenditure close to €20,000 each.

ACCOMMODATION

Ms Baby Joseph said a lack of suitable accommodation close to their workplaces means many of those international recruits are leaving Ireland once their two-year contracts are complete.

“People are leaving the country because there is no secure and safe place to live, they are emigrating to other countries,” she said.

“For all the nurses coming here, for the training, the resources, all of that is provided, and in two years’ time, they are leaving the country.

“Two years is because they have a contract, otherwise they would leave even before that.”

Despite this loss of more than 1,300 staff across Cork health services the year, the amount of staff across all Cork health services increased from a headcount of 15,416 in December 2024 to 15,988 in October of this year, according to the latest workforce report published by the HSE, which is an increase of 572 staff members.

Social Democrats TD and chairperson of the Oireachtas health committee Pádraig Rice told The Echo that so many staff leaving and having to be replaced impacted patients: “This level of turnover in three Cork hospitals is deeply concerning — it is a clear indication that a change in approach is urgently needed. A greater focus must be put on retaining healthcare staff, especially given the HSE’s growing reliance on agency staff.

“It is accepted that there will always be certain number of employees who will move on, but this huge level of turnover has a direct impact on patient care and outcomes.

“The minister and the HSE needs to place a much greater focus on workforce planning and ensure that the health service is an attractive place to work long term.”