Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Throughout the worst period of the pandemic, when uncertainty reigned and before so many of us got the vaccine, our hospitals were the front line in the battle against the virus. Healthcare workers, nurses and midwives came in to work day after day, shift after shift, putting themselves at real risk of contracting the virus. They were very tough times for our healthcare workers and their families. Since the widespread uptake of the vaccine, we have seen immense overcrowding return to our hospitals. The pandemic remains, but as restrictions are being relaxed, inevitably, we are seeing an increase in hospital presentations. An overcrowded hospital is a Petri dish for infections.

While our healthcare workers have been vaccinated, we need to ensure they are given every possible protection against this debilitating virus. I welcome the announcement made last night that these key workers are in line to receive a booster vaccination. It is an important first step in protecting our healthcare workers. Beyond that, we need to start delivering better working conditions. It is not acceptable for our nurses and other staff, such as porters and cleaners, to be working in overcrowded hospitals. It is not acceptable that nurses and other staff in my local hospital, University Hospital Limerick, are reluctant to take annual leave, as they fear there is not enough staff to cover for them when they are off. It is not good enough that we put such a burden on student nurses without paying them adequately for the important work they have done. I am pleased to see that there will be some movement on this issue. However, more clarity is definitely needed. The McHugh report remained unpublished and unacted on for too long. When the student nurses saw patients in distress, they acted. When there were healthcare workers absent due to Covid, the student nurses stepped up. Reports suggest that the Government will act in relation to fourth year student nurses, but there is no suggestion that similar action will be taken in respect to those in the first to third years of their studies. We need clarity from the Government and a timetable for when recognition will be offered to some of our student nurses.

The large number of healthcare workers who have been out of work due to coronavirus illness is stark. Others continue to battle with the long-term impact of the virus on their bodies. Worryingly, the level of infections is increasing across the State.

In the time that is left, I wish to raise the issue of overcrowding, which is a massive problem in my own local hospital. There were 75 people on trolleys there today. The conditions of overcrowding are unbelievable. Last week, I spoke to officials at University Hospital Limerick with my colleague, Deputy Cullinane. They are concerned about the huge number of presentations to the emergency department, which has increased by 22% since 2019. I ask the Minister to intervene personally.

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