The Western Health Board last evening dismissed claims that there was still uncertainty over the jobs of several staff recruited to begin working at a unit in Mayo General Hospital which has not yet opened.
It said all contracts offered to staff due to take up jobs in the hospital's new orthopaedic unit in July and September would be honoured even if the unit does not open until later in the year.
Staff offered contracts became concerned about their futures when they learned the opening of the €10 million unit was to be delayed. A protest on the issue attracted up to 5,000 people to Castlebar last week.
The health board also said claims that up to 80 staff had already been offered jobs in the unit were untrue. It said it had only recruited for 33 positions so far and all those offered jobs would take them up as planned. Doctors and nurses offered jobs would help in outpatients and other areas until the unit opened later in the year, a spokeswoman said. The health board's comments followed claims by the Mayo Independent TD, Dr Jerry Cowley, yesterday that the new jobs were still in jeopardy.