The COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland: An overview of the health service and economic policy response

Abstract

Highlights Very significant effects on health and well-being from the COVID-19 virus and the associated lockdown. As of July 19th, 1,753 people have died and 25,766 have tested positive with the virus. Raid growth in new cases and deaths in the first six weeks of the pandemic. Subsequent fall in cases and deaths until late July. Generally a very high level of compliance with public health measures.

“We All Really Need to just Take a Breath”: Composite Narratives of Hospital Doctors’ Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Workplace-acquired infections are an occupational hazard for health workers worldwide; healthcare workers are reportedly 10 times more likely to return a positive COVID-19 test than the general public [ 51 ], and incidences of other highly transmissible infectious diseases such as seasonal influenza, tuberculosis, and avian and swine influenza have previously also been found to be high among healthcare workers [ 52 ]. Of the healthcare workers who contracted COVID-19 in Ireland’s first wave, 88% were found to have acquired the virus through work [ 21 ]. Yet doctors in Ireland often work through sickness (presenteeism) rather than taking time off work to recover [ 14 ].…”

“…At the recommendation of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), a national stay-at-home order was implemented on 27 March 2020. This involved moving all but essential workers to work from home, the closure of non-essential retail services, the cancellation of public and sporting events, a restriction on non-essential movement beyond a 2 km radius from the home, reductions in public transport, and physical distancing requirements in supermarkets and takeaway services [ 19 , 20 , 21 ]. These restrictions began to ease in early summer 2020, when interviews for this study were conducted.…”

“…In hospitals, major changes were made to enhance capacity to meet projected COVID-19 demands. On 13 March 2020, the national Health Service Executive (HSE) took temporary control of 2000 private hospital beds and 8000 private hospital staff for use as surge capacity for the public health system [ 21 ]. Existing public hospital staff were redeployed from many non-acute services to COVID-19 acute services.…”

“…Almost 400 doctors re-registered with the Irish Medical Council to offer their help to meet demand, coming out of retirement or non-medical careers or returning from overseas [ 20 ]. Medical school examinations were brought forward to bring a new cohort of approximately 1000 intern doctors into the workforce early [ 21 ]. Many hospitals cancelled, limited or virtually delivered outpatient care services and redeployed staff into emergency, infectious disease and intensive care departments from March–June 2020.…”

“…Many hospitals cancelled, limited or virtually delivered outpatient care services and redeployed staff into emergency, infectious disease and intensive care departments from March–June 2020. Many patients also elected to avoid hospital and did not come in for scheduled appointments or treatments [ 20 , 21 ]. Across all specialties and grades, both private and public, these changes brought swift and significant disruptions to doctors’ working lives.…”