Sligo Councillors seek support for healthcare workers suffering form Long-Covid

By Philip Rooney, The Sligo Champion

A motion proposed by Cllr Ann Higgins calling for “Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill to introduce a long-term scheme to recognise and support healthcare workers who continue to experience long-Covid” received widespread support from her fellow Councillors at the February meeting of Sligo County Council.

The motion was proposed “As the special scheme of paid leave for public health sector employees suffering from long-covid expired on December 31.”

Addressing the meeting in support of her motion, Cllr Higgins referred to the old Irish blessing “May you never forget what is worth remembering, nor ever remember what is worth forgetting” as she accused the government of collective amnesia in forgetting the real and life-threatening sacrifices taken by our health care workers during the pandemic.

Cllr Higgins called on the government to introduce a long-term support scheme to recognise and support the 159 healthcare workers who continue to experience long-COVID.

Cllr Higgins noted that “Ireland is among two countries in EU not to have recognized COVID19 as an occupation illness, resulting in 159 healthcare workers with Long COVID being abandoned by this government due to the winding down of special scheme on 31st Dec. In the context of a 150,000 strong workforce, the forgotten 159 represent a tiny share, a miniscule 0.1% of the workforce.”

In a scathing assessment, Cllr Higgins stated “This really is a heartless decision by government not to put in place a new scheme for the small number of essential healthcare workers whose lives have been turned upside down. This government has gone from applauding them in the Dail, to now saying back to work with you or face severe financial hardship.”

Cllr Higgins added, “These tiny minority of healthcare workers want to work, but the debilitating symptoms they continue to experience makes it impossible to do so. To add insult to injury, this the government wracked up high court costs in fighting a case that the workers needed to take to get extensions to the previous scheme, not to mention the time and effort by department officials fighting trade unions at the Labour court. Instead of wasting taxpayers money, the government would have been better placed in putting the time and money where it was most needed, into the development of a long-term scheme that will give these 159 healthcare workers the security they have earned and deserve.”

It was noted that the current Sick Leave scheme only last for six months, and not all people will qualify for extended sick pay under the critical illness protocol and Temporary Rehabilitation Renumeration, the latter being only 37.5% of their salary.

Cllr Higgins continued, “What an insult to their sacrifices and the illness that they acquired in the course of their work in protecting and caring us when we needed them the most’ Cllr Higgins added. ‘These essential workers are now facing another crisis on their own, they are worried how they will survive financially while suffering from debilitating symptoms including brain fog, extreme fatigue, heart issues , difficulty breathing and ongoing aches and pains.”

Cllr Higgins referred to the experience of a local nurse, whose life has been changed beyond recognition as she continues to suffer from extreme fatigue. Normal daily activities such as climbing the stairs, taking the dog for a walk, picking up the children from school, are no longer an option for her.

"This lady stated that nursing was what defined her and she would love to be able to go back to work in the morning. Now she has the additional and real fear of how she will pay her mortgage . She made so many sacrifices during the pandemic to protect the people she loved while simultaneously providing the care to so many patients in a very stressful work environment, now she is asking - all that sacrifice, for what?”

Cllr Higgins asked her fellow Cllrs to contact their local government TDs and Ministers to put pressure on this government to reverse this cruel decision and to extend support to protect the incomes of these workers suffering from this debilitating condition.

“Let’s end this disrespectful and degrading treatment of our essential health care workers. It is time to show them how essential they really are, and time for us to step up for them just as they stepped up for us.”

The motion was supported by Cllr Thomas Healy who said, “They put their families’ and their own health at risk. They were there for us now it’s time for us to be there for them.”

Cllr Marie Casserly echoed those sentiments when she remarked, “Their normal life is no longer normal. It's only right we support these people.”

The discussion on the motion concluded with Cllr Liam Brennan commenting, “These people put their lives on the line.”

Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.