Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

File photo Shutterstock/Juice Flair

88% of healthcare workers with Covid-19 got the virus at work

The INMO wants Covid-19 to be classed as a personal injury under health and safety legislation.

Updated 7.21pm

THE VAST MAJORITY of healthcare workers with Covid-19 contracted the virus while at work, according to new figures.

Of the 8,018 healthcare workers reported to have the virus as of 30 May, excluding cases which are unknown or under investigation:

  • 88% got the virus in a healthcare setting as staff
  • 4% got the virus from contact with a confirmed case
  • 3% got the virus from travel
  • 3% got the virus from community transmission
  • 1% got the virus from a healthcare setting as patients

The figures were provided by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) to the Irish Nurses & Midwives Organisation (INMO).

Of the 8,018 cases, 2,551 (32%) were under investigation without a known source of transmission.

Overall, healthcare workers make up a third of all positive Covid-19 cases in Ireland. Nurses make up a third of those – the largest single group of workers infected.

As of 30 May, seven healthcare workers have died from the virus, 1,515 (19%) have recovered, and 4,823 are still ill (60%). About 20% of cases have a currently unknown status.

The INMO said, following a meeting this week with Minister for Health Simon Harris, it has received a commitment that these figures will be published weekly.

Personal injury 

To combat the high rate of infection among healthcare workers, the INMO is calling for three policy changes:

  • Amend regulations to class Covid-19 as a personal injury under health and safety legislation
  • Facilitate healthcare workers who come into unprotected close contact with Covid-19 to self-isolate for 14 days, without exemptions
  • All healthcare workers – not just those in nursing homes or clusters – be provided with regular Covid-19 testing

Speaking today, INMO General Secretary, Phil Ní Sheaghdha, said that one in three Covid-19 cases in Ireland are healthcare workers and one in 10 are nurses.

“These figures show the vast majority have caught the virus at work.

“This figure cannot simply be accepted as normal. We need to tighten procedures and test more to ensure that frontline staff don’t get the virus they are fighting. This isn’t just about PPE, it’s about policy too,” Ní Sheaghdha stated. 

In response to the INMO’s statement, the Department of Health said: “The Minister for Health and his Department have had constructive engagement with unions on this topic and strongly acknowledge the unique work of healthcare workers in meeting the challenges of COVID-19. 

“The protection of healthcare workers remains a top priority of the Department of Health during this emergency.

“Following the meetings between the Minister and unions it was agreed that a weekly report on healthcare workers would be made available by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC).

“As more information becomes available on the transmission of COVID-19, the Department of Health will continue to review and, where necessary, amend policies that are currently in place to deal with this evolving public health emergency.”

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
23 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rursmcsturs
    Favourite Rursmcsturs
    Report
    May 17th 2022, 7:34 AM

    Testing times for the HSE, sort it out!

    53
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John O Connor
    Favourite John O Connor
    Report
    May 17th 2022, 8:23 AM

    @Rursmcsturs: how

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute chiqey
    Favourite chiqey
    Report
    May 17th 2022, 9:08 AM

    @John O Connor: paying the workers properly might help

    72
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ci
    Favourite Ci
    Report
    May 17th 2022, 4:24 PM

    Best of luck with the strike ,totally deserve parity and better working conditions

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mary O Dwyer
    Favourite Mary O Dwyer
    Report
    May 17th 2022, 10:05 PM

    I fully support equal pay if the expertise is on a par but why should patients pay they have paid with their lives in cases due to delayed care in getting a diagnosis during the past two years of covid . Bloods tell a lot and tomorrow patients suffer yet again . Really not professional and using the sick as bargaining tools . Nurses and front line staff didn’t strike during covid when they were over worked and underpaid and literally risked their lives pre vaccine and pre ffp2 masks . This is not the time as the system tries to catch up in treating the lately diagnosed . I loose sympathy when patients who the lab staff get paid to care for don’t care . Strike is not acceptable in a pandemic catch up phase

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Owens
    Favourite Paul Owens
    Report
    May 17th 2022, 10:14 PM

    @Mary O Dwyer: Listen darling the expertise is not only on a par but the medical scientists do most of the work,they have been getting hammered for the last 20 years ,work load,pay, everything.They kept all the PCR testing going during covid when everyone relied on them and I mean everyone in all our society.You should not be making comments you are clueless about so if u get time try and make your way back to planet earth!!

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jj
    Favourite Jj
    Report
    May 17th 2022, 11:11 PM

    @Mary O Dwyer: when would a good time be? When the service is destroyed altogether by the loss of more staff that are not been treated equally in the workplace? If all other channels have been exhausted what other choice is there? What happened when penny pinching of this vital service a decision was made to send cervical services to America ? Penny pinching here again and not respecting this highly educated workforce will lead to huge quality issues down the line with more highly trained staff leaving. Enhancing and supporting a dedicated workforce is what a forward thinking government should be doing. The area of advanced medical diagnostics which Ireland has ambitions to be a leader in needs to be invested in and highly trained scientist at a minimum should be treated equally

    13
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Laura Halfitz
    Favourite Laura Halfitz
    Report
    May 18th 2022, 7:00 AM

    @Mary O Dwyer: When do you suggest we take action? When the service collapses?
    We purposely didn’t take action during the height of the pandemic due to the affect it would’ve had on the country.

    6
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds