The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation is urging the HSE to implement new “critical emergency” protocols in response to surging coronavirus figures.

The nursing organisation made the call a day after warning that staffing levels in the health service are in “freefall” with rosters “decimated” by virus-related absences.

The union’s Executive Council also repeated its call for childcare to be made available for all healthcare workers while schools are closed.

"New level of crisis"

INMO President Karen McGowan said a “new level of crisis demands a new approach.”

“The HSE needs to upgrade its protocols and safety measures urgently to take account of the rapid growth of this virus,” she said.

“The health service we had just last month is unrecognisable today. Staff on the ground are telling us that a drastic upgrade in safety is needed, to protect workers and patients alike.”

The INMO said out a number of measures it believes could help:

• Drastic reductions in footfall throughout hospitals
• Additional PPE provision and requirements
• 24/7 senior management presence across the health service
• Improved daily communications with staff
• Acknowledgement of organisational responsibility for systemic risks over which staff have no control
• Additional engagement with staff representatives such as the INMO.

INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said it is now time to “ramp up safety plans.”

“During the nursing and midwifery strike in 2019, we held daily meetings with the HSE and across hospitals to ensure that safety was maintained,” she said. “We need to adopt the same mindset today.

“We have safety protocols that have been tweaked since March of last year – the level of pandemic we face now means many need a total overhaul or serious upgrade.

“The EU biological agent directive was adopted in Ireland in November. It requires the HSE to risk assess and adopt their approach to staff safety - this is the ask and the requirement.”

Coronavirus

This afternoon, there were 1,180 COVID-19 patients in Irish hospitals with 109 in intensive care.

To date, one-in-20 COVID-19 cases detected in Ireland has been a nurse or a midwife.

This evening, A further 8,248 coronavirus cases were confirmed – the highest daily figure reported since the pandemic began.