Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I would like to ask a question. Afterwards, colleagues who have already asked questions will be allowed one question each.

Yesterday, during Leaders' Questions, the Tánaiste said 30% of cases arise in the hospital setting. I heard Dr. Colm Henry state this morning that great efforts were being made to make hospitals as safe as possible. We are talking about 2,000 people in the hospital setting with Covid. One third of that figure is 666. I heard Dr. Glynn state this morning that he wanted people to continue to use health services at this time. Clearly, however, we have a problem with our hospitals. Dr. Henry said this morning that there were difficulties with the way hospitals are designed and so on. I am aware of the sacrifices staff have made. We are already aware that 600 staff are out sick and that this is causing difficulties. What could we be doing differently? We have identified a cohort with a considerable rate of infection. What can be done differently within the hospital setting? I am aware that PPE and so on have a role but people are using such equipment. In the first lockdown, people were talking about the possibility of looking for accommodation for staff in the health service. Are we considering that? What are we going to do differently because of the rise in the number of cases?

Many of us feel hopeless. We are following all the guidelines. I am not talking about the hospital setting, in particular, but it would be really helpful if people were told each week where there is a rise in the numbers. I refer, in particular, to the track and trace system. It would be helpful if we were told how people are getting infected. It was mentioned this morning that infections are occurring in the home and that people may be going out partying. There was a suggestion that people are going to shebeens. It would be helpful if people could take ownership in respect of what they want to avoid doing. If I knew infections were occurring in Tesco or Dunnes Stores down the road, I would avoid going there. The same would apply to a certain shopping centre or other locations. It would be really helpful if we could circulate the message on what people can do themselves aside from avoiding social contact and washing hands. My key question, however, concerns what we can do in the hospital setting that we have not been doing to make hospitals safer for staff and patients.