Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 2 March 2021

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health

Covid-19 Health Related Issues: Update

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

To the Senator's initial point, it is the good news versus the challenges we face. The good news is the forecast that by the end of this week we will have administered more than 500,000 vaccine doses. Great credit goes to our vaccination teams across the country, as well as to the GPs, the practice nurses, the Defence Forces and so on. There have been so many people involved and it has been a huge effort. Has it gone flawlessly? No, of course not, neither here nor in any other country that I can see. However, it has gone very well and I am told that, by the end of this week, the large majority of 85s and over will have received their first dose. It is worth acknowledging the efforts across the country. People are working seven days a week.

To the Senator's question on the islands, the Air Corps has been directly involved in delivering vaccines to several islands. I will check in with the HSE on exactly what the plan is for the islands he referenced. It is wonderful to see. It has been a real all-Ireland approach.

With regard to GP practices, I am aware of the situation as well. GPs have been in contact with many Deputies and Senators to say they have not got the vaccine yet. The majority of the GP practices were scheduled for this week so most of that will be addressed this week. I have no doubt, given the scale of the programme, there may still be a number who say they did not get it in certain locations. The HSE is working hard to that end. It holds regular WebEx sessions for the entire general practice community, with thousands of GPs getting involved. Part of the frustration some of the GPs have had is, if we look at it another way, due to the fantastic demand. One thing that has stood out for Ireland is the very high acceptance rate and demand for these vaccines, much higher than some other countries. It is fantastic to see.

On the 85s and over in hospital, logistically I see no reason. Perhaps there is a reason the HSE has identified. I wonder if there are clinical reasons for them to say they prefer the patients to be discharged in the community. I will check in with the HSE and revert to the Senator on that.

On nurses who have taken a leave of absence, a career break or who have simply left, it will be part of the considerations for this year because we have ambitious targets in terms of nursing and other clinical grades across the system. One of my hopes is that, as we scale up and hit the safe staffing levels, some of the awful pressure nurses and midwives have been under will be relieved. If the pilots are anything to go by in terms of safe staffing, they made a huge difference to the clinicians, nurses and midwives involved. Absenteeism and sickness fell while job satisfaction went way up. That might be one of the ways. We need a public health system that people enjoy working in and that supports our staff. I have spoken with the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, about healthcare assistants in nursing homes and she will revert to the Senator with a detailed written reply on that, if that is okay.

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