Fórsa and other health unions have called on the health minister to follow through on his commitment that healthcare workers will continue to receive special leave with pay if they are suffering from long Covid. The move follows the Department of Social Protection’s extension of the Covid enhanced illness scheme until September.

The union’s welcomed the extension and called on minister Donnelly to mirror the move for public sector healthcare workers by extending the special leave scheme.

They have also referred the issue to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), which has offered to arrange a meeting next Monday (27th June). But neither the HSE nor the health department have yet agreed to attend.

About 0.2% of the health workforce are suffering from long Covid, and unions say they should be protected from financial loss due to an injury sustained at work.