Nurses ask if HSE is ready for ebola

Concern over the HSE’s readiness to cope with an ebola outbreak has led the country’s biggest nurses union to demand reassurances from health chiefs.

Opposition parties have also called on the Government to clarify the level of preparedness should the deadly virus reach Ireland.

The calls came after the Cabinet was briefed on how the country would cope with ebola spreading here.

Ministers defended the decision not to impose screening at Irish airports as there are no direct flights to West Africa, where the latest outbreak has been centred.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has written to HSE chiefs calling for an urgent meeting on the situation.

“It is very important that nurses and midwives are provided with training and all necessary recommended protective clothing and equipment in the event that they are in a situation where a person presents with suspected ebola for care,” said the INMO’s Phil Ní Sheaghdha.

HSE chief medical officer Tony Holohan said: “Ireland is well prepared to deal with the possibility of a case of ebola, although the risk of that occurring is very low.”

Health Minister Leo Varadkar said the HSE was ready for any outbreak.

“The chances of a case of ebola in Ireland remain very low, but it’s important of course the Government and all the authorities prepare for it, and we are prepared for it,” he said.

The National Ambulance Service has plans ready for a garda escort for the transfer of any patient with suspected ebola to the 12-bed National Isolation Unit at the Mater Hospital in Dublin.

Guidelines ’useless’

Government guidelines on how to safeguard Irish people during any ebola outbreak may be useless as they “assume a fully operating and functional” health service.

The Irish Medical Organisation issued the warning as concern grows over the epidemic.

Calling for an “urgent” meeting with the HSE, the doctors’ group said it is “not good enough to simply issue guidelines” when there are clear flaws in Irish defences.

“Doctors have received guidelines: However, we have concerns guidelines assume a fully functional service, and this is simply not the case,” it said.

“We do not wish to be alarmist, but we must recognise doctors need to have the resources and structures to deal with any circumstances that may arise.”

— Fiachra Ó Cionnaith