Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

While the Bill is largely technical in nature, it is very much welcome. Many students leave Ireland annually to go to Britain to study their chosen medical degree. It is only right and fitting that the Bill removes the road blocks before people who hold a British medical degree to availing of medical intern posts here. This is the right direction in which we need to move to attract more doctors into the HSE.

Our health service faces continuing pressure brought on by inadequate staffing. While the Bill is a step in the right direction, much stronger measures are needed. We are losing Irish doctors at an unbelievable rate. Some 402 of them obtained Australian visas in the first five months of this year alone. That is nearly doubt the figure for the whole of 2019.

While this may be a shocking statistic to many, it is hardly surprising to those working in healthcare. A recent survey of non-consultant hospital doctors carried out by the Irish Medical Organisation, IMO, clearly showed why so many are leaving. A staggering 96.8% of those doctors have experienced mental health conditions relating to or made worse by their work and working conditions. Some 80% had concerns for their own mental health and 78% were at risk of burning out.

While the Bill falls short in its failure to provide regulation of the home care sector, the sector is in desperate need of professional regulation. This call is not only being made by workers and unions, but by HIQA. One family I know has serious issues retaining home care staff. I raised this previously. The individual needs two carers at a time and uses a care company that appears to be very well run and fair to staff and pays well. Of course, the company is picking up the slack from the HSE and carrying out the work on its behalf. The HSE will call the company and ask whether it has a carer to go out to this family and the carer goes out to look after the individual. However, there is a difficulty for the family and the care company whom I met the week before last. The company said that while it was doing everything it can by paying staff well, giving them all the necessary training and working with them through the various training required, it is losing them to HSE roles and nursing homes. The company has staff for six or seven months before they leave. One carer would not show up and another carer cannot do everything by himself or herself.

I know that people are saying it is the sector and staff are not being paid well enough. Maybe that is the case but there are companies that are paying well enough and they should not be penalised for being good employers. It has a considerable impact on them because they are getting dragged in by the people who are not paying the proper rates or being good employers.

I know it is complex but families should not be subjected to this. The alternative is State care, which is significantly more expensive. I know the Minister of State knows and realises this. She has not come down from some strange planet. She works with people in this area and has heard it more than I have. However, we very much need to ensure there is some level of fair play for care companies. Staff should get visas. People leave for the HSE to get visas. If that could be applied to home care, maybe it would make a difference.

See this speech in context