The Department of Health has rejected appeals from unions to extend the temporary payments scheme intended to support staff members with long Covid until the two sides meet to discuss the issue at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).
The scheme, which was introduced in July 2022, is due to end on Sunday.
There are about 120 people on the scheme, some of them nurses and other frontline workers believed to have contracted Covid in the course of their work.
The Labour Court recently declined to recommend another extension or new scheme, one of a number of proposals unions representing staff across the sector had made, but suggested further engagement between the two sides and both have agreed to return to the WRC.
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The unions wrote to the HSE on Thursday asking for a short extension until that engagement takes place but on Friday, the department made it clear it did not consider this an option.
“At the request of the Department of Health this special scheme has already been extended a number of times, most recently in October 2023, when the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP and Reform (DPENDPR) granted a final extension, permitting the special scheme to run until 31 March 2024. DPENDPR have been very clear that this is the final sanction that will be granted, and as such the special scheme will conclude on 31 March 2024.
“Any employee of the public health sector remaining unwell after that date, may utilise the full provisions of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme which will provide further support.
“The sick leave scheme provides full pay for three months, followed by half pay for three months, and after that, Temporary Rehabilitative Remuneration (TRR) may be applied for, which, if granted, provides up to a further 547 days of paid leave. The Critical Illness Protocol that forms part of the sick leave scheme may also provide additional supports if granted.”
Senior Siptu health sector organiser said that while TRR would provide payment for a prolonged period, the staff affected were at 37.5 per cent of salary “so clearly there a big impact there”.
[ Long Covid: ‘I feel alone and lost . . . it is difficult to see an end to this’Opens in new window ]
“What we have said is there are schemes to deal with blood borne conditions and injuries at work that provide more substantial benefits and that perhaps those could be accessed.
“We are due back at the WRC for conciliation talks and we have asked them to extend the current scheme until then.”
[ Long Covid must be treated as the serious threat it is to public healthOpens in new window ]
A representative for the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, meanwhile, said the unions had also been in touch with Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly and “we will remain in contact with the Minister and his officials over the weekend seeking an urgent solution for our members”.
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