More than 11,000 people applied to a recruitment drive which aimed to boost the health and social care workforce in NI during the coronavirus crisis.

Applications to the COVID-19 HSC Workforce Appeal are now closed to help “manage supply and demand”, but can be “quickly re-opened again” if required.

The appeal, which opened on 27 March, was in response to the “enormous pressure” facing the health service.

The Department of Health said 468 people had been appointed.

The appeal which headlined with, “Northern Ireland needs you,” got 18,719 expressions of interest from the public.

Of the 11,644 formal applications:

  • 3,209 were for clinical work and 8,435 were for support work

     

  • 468 individuals were appointed

     

  • A further 108 offers have been made.

     

  • A further 857 individuals are job ready awaiting deployment if required

     

  • A further 3,984 can be appointed if required, subject to final clearances

     

 

A Department of Health spokesman said the appeal has been a “success”.

“The department is very grateful to all those who expressed an interest, submitted an application or took up a role in response to COVID-19,” he said.

“The figures are a credit to Northern Ireland, and it has been heartening to see the willingness of so many people to help their fellow citizens at such a challenging time,” he added.

This article originally appeared on the BBC website.

The HSC Workforce Appeal was conceived, developed and managed by HealthSectorTalent (HST) on behalf of the Department of Health, the five Health and Social Care (NHS) Trusts and Northern Ireland’s Ambulance Service.

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