Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As we are one year into the pandemic, I take the opportunity to compliment all our front-line workers and all workers providing different services for us through challenging times. I highlight again the particular role of our healthcare workers. They have spent a difficult year dealing with a deadly virus. We all know they have been working in highly challenging circumstances, oftentimes with a reduced staff complement because of colleagues being out sick, etc. They continue to do a marvellous job in what are still difficult circumstances.

The Government and the National Public Health Emergency Team made the right decision to prioritise front-line healthcare workers for vaccination in the first cohort along with long-term residents of nursing homes. That was the right decision. The over-85s were prioritised after that. Unfortunately, some practices have not yet received their vaccines for those aged over 85. I appeal to the Minister to insist to the HSE that these practices get the vaccines this week. I believe it is only a small number. I have heard from constituents who are concerned that they have not yet been called for the vaccine because the GP practice has not yet received it.

I represent Cavan and Monaghan. Many of our neighbours in Fermanagh, Armagh and Tyrone have, thankfully, got the vaccine. We know those responsible are providing the vaccine in Northern Ireland to a far younger age cohort while we have older people who have not yet got their vaccines. Their neighbours, cousins and relations are getting vaccines north of the Border, and the best of luck to them. I appeal to the Minister to ensure that, where this exists, the particular difficulties are ironed out. We can all make cases for different categories of people, including people with underlying health conditions and those working in different areas.

I am amazed that members of An Garda Síochána have not been given a higher prioritisation in the roll-out of the vaccination programme. Along with other front-line workers, members of the force have done exceptionally good work over the past 12 months in dealing with this pandemic. I appeal to the Minister and whomever makes the recommendation to review the placing of An Garda Síochána in the particular category.

Until now, there has been a problem internally in the HSE communicating with GPs. I know from speaking with GPs that there was utter frustration at times with making calls and calls not being returned. Those who called never got to speak to the same person a second time. When there is a dedicated helpline, there should be identified officials to deal with particular counties. If a general practitioner from Cavan rings, that GP should be able to talk to a small team of people rather than someone with whom he or she has not spoken previously or someone who claims to have no knowledge of the particular queries. GPs and other clinicians in practices have too much to do. They are under too much pressure to be wasting time making needless telephone calls because previous calls have not been returned. This should not arise in the first place. They should not have to speak to different people to outline the same query on numerous occasions. This has to be streamlined. Unfortunately, there is a tendency nowadays not to return calls. This applies is in some parts of the public service and the private sector as well. People bang off an email that says nothing. There is nothing like picking up the telephone and talking to the clinician who has concerns.

This morning, I spoke to a GP in a small practice who was starting to make calls to some patients to whom he had arranged to administer vaccines tomorrow. Unfortunately, he does not have enough vaccine to administer to all of them. That is a source of great disappointment for those people. I appeal to the Minister to ensure that such administrative difficulties are resolved.

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