Tens of thousands of people missed out on appointments for physiotherapy, speech and language therapy and occupational therapy as the health service diverted resources to the coronavirus emergency in the first half of 2020.

The HSE’s latest performance report reveals that 101,000 fewer physiotherapy appointments than targeted took place in the year to June. Speech and language therapy appointments were down by 70,000, while occupational therapy appointments were 52,000 below target.

Podiatry, audiology, dietetics and psychology services were also hit hard.

Many of the health professionals who would normally have been available were redeployed to Covid-related activities during the period reviewed by the report. Around 30% of the 9,000-plus health workers who contracted the virus were health professionals and others represented by Fórsa.

In recent months, the HSE and voluntary hospitals have been working to re-establish normal health services, alongside Covid-related activities.

Fórsa’s head of health Éamonn Donnelly applauded the vital work done by health and social care professionals during the pandemic. “These figures show that thousands of citizens depend on our often-forgotten health and social care professionals. They have made a magnificent contribution during this crisis.

“Now we need to see proper investment in staffing and services in these vital areas, which were already under-staffed and under-funded prior to the pandemic,” he said.

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