Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach. Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit chuig an Teach ar maidin. It is easy for us to forget the dark days, the uncertainty and the fear that surrounded the Covid-19 pandemic. For most of us, life has moved on, but unfortunately not for everyone. The exact number of people with long Covid is unknown. HSE exact numbers vary, ranging between 1.8% and 8.3% of the population. As the Minister of State is probably aware, symptoms include fatigue, extreme tiredness, shortness of breath and joint pain, to name a few. We all recall how we applauded our health professionals, and rightly so, for their dedication during the Covid-19 period, and how they went far above the call of duty. The Taoiseach at the time, Deputy Leo Varadkar, said that "not all superheroes wear capes" and that many of them work in our hospitals, which is true. That being said, it is particularly heartbreaking to hear of one very dedicated nurse who, having contracted long Covid in the course of her work, now finds herself medically retired and left out of the HSE scheme for nurses. This is apparently because she developed Covid-19 on the wrong date. Nurse Finola O'Brien has been failed by the system, through no fault of her own, as she continues to suffer from long Covid.

Ms O'Brien was a passionate and dedicated diabetes nurse specialist working across two sites, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda and Dundalk County Hospital, when she contracted Covid-19 on the front line on 18 February 2022. She did everything right. She was careful, had her vaccinations and boosters, and complied with all guidelines and procedures. In spite of her precautions, she contracted Covid-19 and due to circumstances that evolved, only received the mandatory ten days of leave following a change in Government policy in 2022. Ms O'Brien received full critical illness pay from June 2022 to December 2022, followed by half pay until 20 June 2023. This was then progressed to what the HSE call nil pay. Finally, on 7 July 2023, she was medically retired, and this was not her decision. As far as we are aware, Ms O'Brien is the only nurse who has been medically retired, secondary to complications following contracting Covid-19 in the line of duty.

In March 2022, the Government changed the criteria around payment for nurses within the HSE, called special leave with pay, SLWP. This is the last remaining Government support nationally for employees, following the pandemic. Currently, there are approximately 100 nurses receiving the SLWP payment. To be eligible for full salary, it was necessary to have contracted Covid-19 prior to 7 February 2022. Sadly, Ms O'Brien missed that deadline by a mere 11 days. There were no exception criteria and there was no consideration that it might be possible that there were individuals who should have been medically assessed to ascertain if the situation warranted inclusion in this payment scheme. Ms O'Brien has been hospitalised five times and must visit her GP often. She is currently waiting to commence pulmonary rehab and may have to wait up to 90 weeks to get that.

Ms O'Brien has no voice on numerous occasions. She has a throat that is on fire, a complex medical regime, difficulty walking and a harsh cough that can last for hours. The impact of long Covid on her life and mental health is devastating. According to Medmark, her life expectancy has been significantly reduced as a result of contracting Covid-19. Ms O'Brien has spent thousands of euro on medical expenses, and she has lost out financially on her monthly income and on her pension contributions. Applause is not what Ms O'Brien needs. She needs a practical and honest solution to the problem that she finds herself in. She gave her all to her patients. She deserves much better than the place she currently finds herself in. I have met with Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, regarding this particular case, and I would plead with the HSE to do the right thing here. Ms O'Brien was one of those nurses that we sent in to the unknown when the rest of us locked our doors and hid under our beds because of the fear of Covid-19. They went out to look after the sick in our hospitals, and it is only right that the State should now look after them.