Challenges in health and welfare in 2022
by Ashley Connolly
 
"We want to ensure that workers on the frontline in community, voluntary and private employment, who did so much to meet the Covid-19 onslaught, and who continued to do so beyond the cut-off date of July 2021, are recognised for the payment."
"We want to ensure that workers on the frontline in community, voluntary and private employment, who did so much to meet the Covid-19 onslaught, and who continued to do so beyond the cut-off date of July 2021, are recognised for the payment."

We’re now well and truly in the midst of the summer holiday period, and yet I’m conscious that there’s no real let-up in pressure for workers in public health and welfare.

Despite having entered a ‘post-pandemic’ period, our hospitals and other health services are dealing with another spike in Covid infection. This is adding to existing pressures on our public health system and the day-to-day challenges faced by Fórsa members.

In addition, up to 200 health staff are currently absent due to ‘long Covid’ symptoms. Very little is understood about the condition and its long-term effects.

Despite this, for workers newly diagnosed with a Covid-related illness since the beginning of July, the HSE is treating work absences - beyond the required seven days isolation period - as ordinary sick leave.

The HSE scheme is not acceptable to the trade unions as it fails to address our members real concerns.

That’s why Fórsa and other health unions have called on the health minister to honour his commitment that healthcare workers would continue to receive special leave with pay if they’re suffering from long Covid.

We’re also pressing to ensure that as many health workers as possible receive the special Covid payment. To this end, we’re making full use of the appeals process.

We want to ensure that workers on the frontline in community, voluntary and private employment, who did so much to meet the Covid-19 onslaught, and who continued to do so beyond the cut-off date of July 2021, are recognised for the payment.

Challenges

Following such a lengthy and significant public health crisis, it’s understandable that the HSE’s chief executive has now decided to move on from his current post. Paul Reid’s successor will face a wide range of human resources and logistical issues that need to be addressed. Among these is the recruitment of more staff into disability services, many of which are delivered by the community and voluntary sector organisations funded by the HSE.

The current funding model effectively prohibits pay improvements in these employments, make them unable to recruit and retain qualified health and social care professionals.

It’s a vicious circle that must be broken. And it’s driving Fórsa’s preparations for industrial action in a number of community and voluntary sector employments this autumn.

Reid’s successor also has to oversee the establishment of the six HSE regional health areas (RHAs) approved by the Government in April. This is an essential step towards improving community health services.

The over-reliance on acute hospitals and their trolleys is a direct result of under-developed regional and community health services.

There really is no alternative to community-led provision if we want to improve access to services and address hospital overcrowding, and the incoming chief executive of the HSE needs to have a firm grasp of this approach.

A High Court ruling in May raised a lot of very complex issues for the multidisciplinary teams involved in the delivery of needs assessments, and Fórsa continues to take a proactive approach with employers and policy makers to meet the challenges laid down by the ruling.

Breakthrough

The breakthrough on working hours achieved by the unions this year is significant, and it’s good to see that the HSE has a target of maximising the number of health workers returning to pre-austerity hours from this month. Payment arrangements are being put in place for those who can’t return to the reduced hours immediately.

As a union we continue to take great pride in the work of our members in health and welfare services, and not just in times of crisis. You have a strong and admirable record of always putting yourselves at the centre of the nation’s care. It’s my great privilege to work on your behalf, and ensure your voice is heard at the negotiation table.

We’ve seen some staff changes in Fórsa recently. The team now working with our Health and Divisional Executive will include Linda Kelly as national secretary with responsibility for health and social care professionals. Chris Cullly has national responsibility for Tusla, social work and social care workers as well as national professional committees. And Denis Keane now has national responsibility for corporate affairs. We will be building upon the achievements of our predecessors.

All four of us, along with all our vastly experienced health officials who work closely with their local branches across the country, are well placed to represent more than 30,000 members across health.

We are working towards the delivery of our strategic plan and as we prepared for the challenges associated with the introduction of regional health agencies, and our members will be at the centre of this process.

As we enter the late summer, I hope that you and your loved ones will have an opportunity to take a breather and enjoy the long summer evenings and the sunshine.

 

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