Nurses with long Covid feel like they have gone from hero to zero – Marian Harkin TD

South Donegal and Sligo/Leitrim TD Marian Harkin has said the imminent termination at the end of March of the special scheme of paid leave for those who suffer from long Covid has had a huge impact on those who contracted it while working at the coalface in hospitals and care settings at the height of the pandemic.

“These people feel let down, it’s like they’ve gone from hero to zero within the space of two short years,” Deputy Harkin said.

“To be fair, the payment has been extended several times over the last year and despite the Minister for Health asking for an extension to the end of June this year, the request was denied by the Minister of Public Expenditure.

Addressing Tánaiste Miceál Martin in the Dáil Ms Harkin said, “A number of my constituents, nurses, who are on this temporary special scheme have contacted me and the prospect of the termination of the scheme makes them feel totally let down and abandoned. During the first year or two of Covid they were fighting an enemy they couldn't see, and they often did it with no PPE,”

Deputy Harkin said: “They put their health at risk to save the lives of others and now some of them have the burden of long Covid to deal with. This means they are unable to work due to severe symptoms that prevent them re-entering the workforce. Their lives have been turned upside down and while other people also suffer from long Covid, many health care workers who went to work every day during the Covid pandemic in order to keep our hospitals and healthcare settings open, contracted it because of their dedication to their patients.

The Tánaiste said that the issue has been through the industrial relations machinery where the Labour Court recommended that management and staff representative bodies explore the supports already in place and available to those impacted by Long Covid.

He said a number of engagements have taken place to date between management and the staff representative bodies in line with the Labour Court recommendation and hopefully there will be a resolution.

“The people I am speaking to believe that extending the payment is the least the government can do for those who genuinely put themselves at risk because of their work,” Ms Harkin said, “and in this context, they want to see long Covid recognized as an occupational illness.