Sherlock criticises “heartless” cuts to Long Covid scheme for healthcare workers

LABOUR TD and health spokesperson Marie Sherlock has called the government “heartless” for refusing to continue a scheme for healthcare workers who contracted Long Covid.

On December 31st, a special scheme, which was set up during the Covid-19 pandemic to financially compensate healthcare workers who contracted Long Covid in the line of duty, will be wound down by the government, with 159 workers losing their benefits.

The Dublin Central TD dubbed the government “cruel” for cutting the program, noting that Ireland is in a minority of countries within the European Union that fail to recognise Covid-19 as an occupational illness.

Sherlock said “the decision by the government to abandon these healthcare workers with Long COVID who gave so much of themselves working on the frontline in response to the COVID pandemic is both cruel and degrading.”

She remarked, “it seems as if the government has amnesia when it comes to the sacrifices of these healthcare workers, all of whom want to work but simply cannot.”

“Unfortunately, Long Covid sufferers will face a cliff edge when a replacement long-term scheme should have been put in place some time ago.”

The Labour health spokesperson called on Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill to intervene and “champion these workers.”

Sherlock said she has spoken to healthcare workers with Long Covid, and now face financial insecurity in January on top of a debilitating illness.

For this decision to take effect over the Christmas period is another gut punch for these workers, many of whom are suffering from debilitating symptoms, including extreme fatigue, heart issues, and difficulty breathing.”

Sherlock said that Taoiseach Micheál Martin was “heartless” for refusing to recognise Covid-19 as an occupational illness, as is the case in other EU nations.

“We went from applauding our healthcare heroes to essentially telling them to get over it,” she remarked.

When the scheme winds down, workers will be able to avail of the standard sick leave scheme, which Sherlock says does not meet the scale or circumstances of the challenges brought about by Long Covid.

“This issue will not quietly go away as the government may hope. These workers need our support. I am calling on the government, the Minister for Health, and the HSE to intervene to reverse this cruel decision and to extend supports to protect the incomes of these workers suffering from this debilitating condition,” she said.