Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I wish everyone good morning. Our guests are all very welcome, and I thank them for their presentations. There is a remarkable similarity in what they are all saying, namely, that the health sector work environment is very unhealthy and has resulted in many healthcare workers being in a state of bad health. The latter is the result of stress and the mental health issues that have already been outlined, and then there are the injuries resulting from assaults. This matter demands a response, and the witnesses have all been talking about it for a long time. We have talked about it here from time to time, but it strikes me that it is very much at crisis point and that a serious response on the part of the Government and the HSE is required.

Obviously, the lack of capacity and unsafe staffing levels are the key things that are having an impact. In practical terms, however, there is also a responsibility on the part of the HSE and hospital management to ensure that staff are protected. Reference was made to security within healthcare facilities. I would like to hear a bit more about that. It strikes me that the immediate practical responsibility should be to ensure adequate security. When patients or people accompanying them are out of line and abusive to staff, that needs to be dealt with. There needs to be a clear atmosphere created in healthcare facilities to the effect that it is not acceptable for people to be abusive or to physically assault others. I would like hear about the witnesses' experience of security in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Reference was made to some of that security being provided on an agency basis. Will Dr. Finnegan elaborate on that? She referred to the importance of security either at her facility or in her experience. Is there adequate security? Are these permanent security staff or are they people from agencies who come and go?