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Updated 28 minutes ago
A UNION has said that some nursing students have been frustrated and “furious” at the last minute decision to reassign students and nurse-midwives who are in teaching or supervisory roles to help the healthcare sector combat the rise of Covid -19.
Due to this redistribution, unpaid placements for students in Year 1-3 have been suspended for at least two weeks starting tomorrow, but placements for Year 4 nursing students and midwives will continue.
The Siptu union said its members were “furious” and frustrated by the decision, which it says was made without “adequate” consultation. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organization (INMO) has said it was a “last minute decision” and that they would meet to discuss their reaction to the announcement.
In a statement issued last night, the Health Department said staffing in all areas of the health sector was overloaded and that “steps are being taken to maximize the workforce.”
Yesterday there were 119 additional hospitalizations in a 24-hour period, increasing the total number of people with Covid-19 in the hospital to 1,854, of which 191 are in the ICU.
The 14-day incidence rate of Covid-19 in Ireland is now 1,530.2 per 100,000 people.
The director of the National Virus Reference Laboratory, Dr Cillian De Gascun, said it is “inevitable” that the UK variant will become the dominant variant in Ireland.
Student placements
The Health Department said the HSE had requested that qualified and experienced staff working in the training of students from Years 1-3 be reassigned.
Due to this redistribution, all clinical placements beginning tomorrow for nursing students and midwives in years 1-3 will be suspended for at least two weeks.
Affected students will not have to reimburse this placement time later to qualify, and INMO said they will not be offered temporary health aide contracts, as they did earlier in the pandemic.
Students and midwives in Year 4, the last year before grading, are counted for classification purposes as 0.5 of a full-time equivalent; these placements will continue.
INMO has sought clarity on this measure for fourth-year nursing students, and has requested that they be paid with health assistants, as in March, to “better reflect the workload and risk faced by last-year interns. year”.
The Department of Health and INMO have been in talks about paying nursing students for unpaid clinical placements that take place during the Covid-19 pandemic. INMO said that an offer of € 100 a week does not reflect the risks they face.
SIPTU Health Division Organizer Kevin Figgis said they have been “inundated” with calls from their members who are “furious” and frustrated.
“They expressed frustration at this sudden change in policy and the potential impact it will have on the provision of essential health care.
“Members are furious at the staggering lack of proper consultation and say this decision will only deepen the crisis in health care for students and health care staff working on the front lines.”
Declarations
The Health Department said: “The temporary suspension of these student placements will release clinical placement coordinators, practice coordinators, as well as nurses and midwives who work in other educational and policy development functions to support to the HSE in this challenging time. “
“This is an evolving situation and is under constant review in the context of the current demand trajectory for Covid-19.”
INMO Secretary General Phil Ní Sheaghdha said: “This is a last minute decision and more clarity is needed. Students have been put in incredibly risky situations without pay and with weakened protections.
“Scholars who are asked to continue working must be properly valued. At the beginning of the pandemic, their salary was increased to take into account the risks and workload they faced. The Minister must do the right thing and reestablish that policy. “
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said: “I would like to thank all student nurses and midwives for their continued commitment to the future of our health services.
“This is an uncertain time for them and I know that many will be disappointed by this news. I would like to assure you that all options to restart these locations will be considered as soon as possible. “
Rachel Kenna, Director of Nursing for the Department of Health, said: “I recognize the tremendous commitment that students have made in participating in clinical learning environments at a very challenging time.
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“The education of student nurses and midwives is a priority for all of us, but this must be done safely, with the proper support and supervision structures.”
Kenna is in contact with HSE, colleges and the regulator to ensure that the impact of this decision is minimized for all nursing and midwifery students.
The Department of Health said in its statement last night that the HSE Office of the Director of Nursing and Midwifery Services, Senior Nurses and Midwives from clinical services, the Chief Nursing Office of the Department of Health, and the Board of Nursing and Irish midwives support this position.
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