Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Health, Stephen Donnelly has called for urgent action to protect vulnerable residents in nursing homes across the country.
His calls come as the sector, which houses 25,000 residents nationally, has been plunged into an unprecedented crisis as a direct result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Deputy Donnelly has called for a prioritising of on-site testing of residents and staff, the immediate supply of adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) and additional staff where needed.
He said that priority must be given to staffing nursing homes as some nursing homes are operating on a highly reduced workforce – making it hard for them to provide essential services.
He explained, “Nursing homes have so far been hit by 22 clusters of the COVID-19 leaving staff and vulnerable elderly residents severely ill from the infection.
“Nursing homes are facing major issues such as staff shortages, accessing PPE as well as severe funding issues – and a growing number simply cannot cope without State help.
“I fully understand our health system is being stretched to a point it has never had to go to before, but this is an issue that urgently needs to be prioritised.
“Some of the most vulnerable people in our society are looked after by the brilliant care staff working in the nursing home sector. But right now I am being contacted by managers at care homes across the county who are struggling to retain staff who are either falling ill or having to self-isolate as a result of COVID-19 or are being recruited from the private sector by the HSE.
“Worryingly, I am being told that private nursing homes are having trouble purchasing PPE from regular suppliers as they are now only selling to Government. We do not want to repeat the mistakes made in both Spain and Italy where the sector was not prioritised resulting in a tragic loss of life.
“The Government may also need to look at some sort of supports or payment freezes for homes facing financial issues and families struggling to cover the costs of caring for their loved ones.
“Every effort needs to be made to give nursing homes the best possible chance of coping with this crisis. We need to show the sector that they are valued,” he concluded.