HSE 19548 - Proposed multi-supplier panel of employment agencies for the international recruitment of registered nurses & midwives

The contract for the International Recruitment of Registered Nurses/Midwives including Specialist Nurses/Midwives on behalf of the HSE and HSE-Funded Agencies Section 38 & 39 expires on the 17th

Feb 2023. The previous contract was awarded in compliance with E.U. Procurement Directives and in accordance with best practice. The purpose of the Contract is to facilitate the increase in bed capacity in line with the SláinteCare report and the Department of Health Capacity Review, it is envisaged that this capacity increase will generate a requirement for additional clinical staff, in particular registered nurses and midwives. The Health Service Executive will seek to appoint suitably qualified recruitment agencies to a Panel in order to meet the need.

Whilst the Hospital Groups and Community Health Organisations will continue to directly employ nurses and midwives exiting recognised courses in Ireland and to conduct its own standard recruitment campaigns, it is accepted that these sources may not provide an adequate supply of nursing and midwifery personnel to meet their current and anticipated workforce requirement. Therefore it was deemed necessary to recruit  internationally from both within and outside of the European Union.

The Panel will support the HSE and Section 38 and Section 39 Agencies to consolidate their international

nursing / midwifery recruitment, reduce the competing internal market for a finite applicant pool and ensure value for money. Nurses and Midwives recruited internationally through this Panel may be offered specified purpose two year contracts.

In preparation for the new tender project to replace the existing contractual arrangements, the HSE seeks the views of market participants on the main issues and competitive forces in the area of the international recruitment of nurses for work in the Irish health services.