Cork nurse suffering from long covid could lose home as payment ends

The special leave with pay scheme for healthcare workers which was initiated during the pandemic to ensure full pay for those suffering with long covid will end this month

Nurse Fiona Walsh, who contracted long covid at work, says she faces losing her homes if her pay is stopped. Picture: Chani Anderson

Healthcare workers suffering from long covid have been urged to address the Oireachtas health committee this week ahead of the pending closure of their payment scheme at the end of the year.

One Cork nurse has claimed that should the suspension of the payment go ahead as planned she will be unable to pay her mortgage going forward, and will lose her home.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has lobbied health committee chair and Social Democrats TD Padraig Rice to consider hearing the testimony of the 120 workers still being paid under the pandemic-era scheme before the Dáil breaks for Christmas next week.

INMO general secretary Phil Ni Sheaghda told Mr Rice “the Government has not accepted covid as an occupational disease causing injury to healthcare workers suffering from long covid because of workplace exposure”.

“These workers, predominantly women, will transition to the Public Sector Sick Leave Scheme, which is time-limited and (would) render them with no options for sick leave if they recover and return to work, which is their desire,” Ms Ni Sheaghda said.

The special leave with pay scheme for healthcare workers was initiated during the pandemic to ensure full pay for those suffering with long covid and who were unable to return to work.

It has been extended a number of times since its inception — however both the HSE and the Department of Health have confirmed the scheme will expire for good on December 31.

Final extension given in June following a Labour Court hearing

A spokesperson for the department said the scheme had been given a final extension in June following a Labour Court hearing, and that when it expires the staff in receipt of it and who are unfit to return to work “will move seamlessly” onto the public service sick leave scheme — which is time-limited to 183 days over a four-year period.

Douglas-based nurse Fiona Walsh, who contracted long covid at work during the ‘meaningful Christmas’ when the government relaxed pandemic-restrictions from December 2021 leading to a surge in infections, says she “won’t survive on no income”.

Describing herself as “extremely unwell” still, Ms Walsh (39) said she continues to suffer from brain fog, joint and muscular pain, tachycardia, and nausea, and still becomes very tired after any level of exertion.

“It’s very upsetting, very stressful. Obviously we’re grateful that they’ve paid us all this time, but we feel we’ve been abandoned and forgotten about now,” she said.

“The reality is many of us do face losing our homes if our pay is stopped. I live alone. I pay the mortgage alone. I won’t survive on no income.

“Everyone agrees I have long Covid. I’ve tried all protocols and regimes but nothing has helped. I haven’t been fine since January 2021."

She said affected workers met Taoiseach Micheál Martin last June to discuss the matter. 

“He showed loads of empathy. He said he’d talk to the minister [for health Jennifer Carroll McNeill]. I don’t know if he has the power to overrule her, or if that is how this works,” Ms Walsh said.

Last week the Taoiseach told Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide in the Dáil that he will “talk to the ministers involved again” regarding the pending cessation of the workers’ payment, but added he “didn’t want to raise any hopes”.