HSE to welcome graduate nurses 'in coming weeks' as 93 Midlands contracts approved

The HSE Dublin and Midlands has confirmed that formal sanction has now been received from the Department of Health for 93 graduate nurse posts across the region.

"These graduate nurse appointments represent an important investment in strengthening frontline services across the Dublin and Midlands region and supporting newly qualified nurses as they begin their professional careers within the public health service," a spokesperson for the HSE Dublin and Midlands said in a statement today (Thursday).

"The HSE looks forward to welcoming the successful candidates into services across the region in the coming weeks."

As part of the approvals, 25 graduate nursing contracts have been approved for Midlands Regional Hospital, Tullamore, while a number of graduates in Midlands Regional Hospital, Mullingar, have already received start dates for the end of November.

Midlands TD John Clendennen said the news of the contracts was "very welcome".

“Recruiting and retaining nurses is essential to strengthening our healthcare system, supporting existing frontline staff and ensuring patients receive the highest standards of care.”

Deputy Clendennen acknowledged recent concerns regarding 36 newly qualified nurses awaiting employment contracts and commencement dates across hospitals in Tullamore, Portlaoise and Mullingar, and emphasised the importance of progressing recruitment without unnecessary delays.

“I fully appreciate the frustration and uncertainty experienced by nursing graduates who have completed their training but have been awaiting confirmation of employment.

“It is essential that these graduates now receive clarity regarding their appointments and that the recruitment process moves forward as quickly as possible.

“At a time when our hospitals continue to face staffing pressures, we must prioritise the recruitment and retention of permanent nursing staff, while reducing our reliance on costly agency personnel.”

In October, this paper spoke with graduate nurses Rosemount's Della Clarke and Galway native Katie McGee, who were due to take up full-time positions at Tullamore hospital.

The graduates had completed the recruitment process, including Garda vetting, payroll documentation and submitting her NMBI registration details, but the decision to put their contracts on hold due to HSE sanctions left the TUS Athlone graduates feeling "frustrated" and "hard done by".

The confirmation of contract approvals brings an end to period of uncertainty for the 2026 graduates.

The HSE said the approved posts had been allocated across its Integrated Healthcare Areas (IHAs) which were 'working with recruitment on-boarding' to confirm start dates with successful candidates as quickly as possible.