INMO Calls For Increased Covid Measures As Hospitalisations Increase 347%

The INMO has said it cannot adequately plan for what Covid might look like in hospitals this winter.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has called for additional public health measures due to the impact rising Covid cases are having in hospitals.

“The INMO Executive today have taken the decision to call on the interim Chief Medical Officer and the HSE's Chief Clinical Officer to advise Government and the HSE on additional measures that can be taken to alleviate the pressure that is on the health system," said INMO President, Karen McGowan.

"These include the reintroduction of immediate Covid screening upon arrival of patients to EDs, strengthening advice around mask wearing, a second booster for healthcare workers and improved ventilation in healthcare settings.

"The rate at which we are seeing infections rise in our hospitals is extremely worrying. From the 29th of May 2022 to 4th July 2022, we have seen Covid hospitalisations increase from 198 to 885, a 347% increase.

“As a nurse in an extremely busy emergency department where Covid hospitalisations are quite high, I can say with confidence that the pressure that all nurses, midwives and other healthcare workers are under at the moment is unsustainable.

 “As an INMO Executive, we know anecdotally that Covid is seriously impacting our rosters but as the HSE no longer publish the levels of healthcare workers infected with COVID by profession this makes it impossible to know the exact scale of the problem.

"We cannot adequately plan for what Covid might look like in our hospitals at what is traditionally the busiest period of the year (November, December, January) if we don’t know the scale of the problem now during an abnormally busy time," she insisted.

Naas Resident and INMO General Secretary, Phil Ní Sheaghdha said: “We have just emerged from the worst June for hospital overcrowding on record coupled with sharp increases in Covid cases in our hospitals. It is a wholly unsafe environment for our members to operate in at the moment which is having implications for patient safety. 

 “Since the removal of the requirement to wear masks, we have seen over 39,861* people on trolleys in our hospitals while COVID cases are on the rise once again. While we understand that legislation is currently being prepared to legally underpin advice on mask-wearing, we cannot wait for the Oireachtas to pass legislation in the Autumn.

"Unfortunately, Covid does not pay heed to the legislative agenda. Mask wearing in indoor and congregated settings must be introduced alongside a strong public health campaign. 

 “It has been 9 months since healthcare workers first received their Covid booster vaccine. We believe that it is time for the National Immunisation Advisory Committee to recommend that patient-facing healthcare workers be provided with an appropriate second booster. We believe this is a decision that should be made swiftly. 

 “The INMO has long called for the ventilation/airflow in hospitals to be examined. Health settings are not just places of care; they are workplaces for thousands of workers.

"The provision of a safe and healthy workplace is a legal responsibility held by employers, the safety of nurses and midwives should not be a secondary matter.

"The vast majority of Covid outbreaks are now occurring in healthcare settings so ensuring proper air quality would go a long way to increasing the safety of our members and patients. 

 “We cannot continue to ignore the impacts that COVID is having on our healthcare system. We must act now to protect our health service and the public at large ahead of the unknowns of autumn and winter, she added.