The HSE's 'Be on Call for Ireland' campaign, aimed at recruiting former medical staff based at home and abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic, was launched in March of last year.

However, it has emerged that just 328 staff were hired from 73,000 applications.

The scheme has racked up €7.6 million in overall spending including recruitment, digital development and occupational health clearances.

To discuss this we were joined by Dr Gabrielle Colleran, Vice President of the Irish Hospitals Consultants Association, and David Hughes, Deputy General Secretary of the INMO.