Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There is a pressing need to hire a substantial number of additional medical scientists. The workforce stands at a little over 2,100 whole-time equivalents. However, the HSE has done an analysis of the numbers that need to be hired and projected a requirement to recruit nearly 400 this year because many replacement posts need to be filled. The HSE is estimating a need to hire 400 this year and 160 every year after that. The chief clinical officer, Dr. Henry, is leading a piece of work looking at the future direction of this. As we invest more in technologies as genetics and the various scientific disciplines come more to the fore, we will need to build out and continue to invest in the profession and in this workforce.

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