Coronavirus NI: Pandemic will see health inequalities increase, union warns

A senior union representative raised concern about the “slow-down” in provision of treatment for non-Covid-19 conditions such as coronary and cancer care.

Anne Speed from Unison told the health committee that outstanding concerns raised by unions over working conditions must be addressed by the Department of Health prior to the roll-out of a plan to restart services that had been paused or scaled back during the pandemic.

She said there is “anxiety” among the workforce and a “lack of confidence” among the general public about returning to healthcare settings.

“We are extremely concerned that the Covid-19 pandemic will further widen health inequality in our society, it’s particularly dangerous this virus for persons with underlying health conditions,” she said.

She raised issues about sufficient Covid-19 testing among staff, provision of PPE and concerns about the potential heightened risk BAME (black, Asian and ethnic minority) staff members may be at.

Ms Speed said there had been “patchy” engagement with the department about those matters.

She also highlighted longer term issues around workforce management, staffing shortages and over-reliance on agency workers.

“If we don’t get prompt and quick responses from the department, restart will be delayed,” she said.

Committee members also heard about concerns from social workers, social care workers and administrative staff that they feel like “second class citizens”.

Tanya Killen, from the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (Nipsa), said: “They feel undervalued, an after-thought and playing second fiddle to colleagues in the acute side of the health service.”

She said there are staff concerns that patients are being discharged from hospitals without sufficient care packages.

Ms Killen said staff working with children in care are concerned that a minority of young people are “weaponising” coronavirus and deliberately coughing or spitting at staff or other children.

“Our members report on a daily basis risk-taking and non-compliant behaviours from a cohort of young people,” she said.

“Whilst there is no doubt most are trying to avoid Covid risk through compliance with Government directives, there are certainly some young people who are weaponising Covid both with their peers and staff and examples our members have given us is the young people coughing deliberately toward staff or spitting at staff.

“These scenarios are key factors in the spiralling levels of absence due to self-isolation and other stress-related conditions.”

She called for more action from Stormont to manage these new risks.