Denis Naughton questions the Minister for Health on a no fault vaccine compensation scheme for Ireland. Deputy Naughton has been advocating for this for the past 20 years.
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Denis Naughton keeps up the pressure to designate Long Covid as an Occupational Illness.
“It seems really bizarre that despite many frontline healthcare workers suffering with conditions associated with long COVID as a result of providing vital medical care to patients at the height of the pandemic, the Department of Health is only ‘teasing out issues’ on occupational illness supports now,” stated Denis Naughten.
“The Department of Social Protection has been considering a scheme to support frontline workers suffering with conditions associated with long COVID since last November, and yet the one Department that would benefit most from such a scheme, the Department of Health, does not seem to be dealing with the issue with the urgency it requires.
“In a few short weeks frontline healthcare workers who put their lives at risk to care for patients during the height of the pandemic, without proper protective PPE clothing, and who are out of work with conditions associated with long COVID are facing an income cliff-edge as their HSE funded paid leave will cease.”
At present, only healthcare workers who were out sick with long COVID conditions prior to 15 November 2021, which was before the Omicron variant was detected, are able to avail of this paid leave, with all other frontline workers excluded from any specific supports. Even those workers in receipt of special long COVID supports will see this cease in June this year if they have not made a full recovery allowing them to return to work.
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You can watch the recording of our Webinar held on 27th March 2023 and scroll through or download the presentations below
LCAI is delighted to announce we are hosting our first webinar – see details below
Long Covid Advocacy Ireland (LCAI), Ireland’s first formal patient advocacy organisation for Long Covid in Ireland, is excited to host our first webinar.
How can occupational therapy support those living with Long Covid? Currently many Long Covid patients are having difficulty accessing services such as OT in the community.
Ciara Breen
AOTI representative to the HSE Long Covid Working Group, will share strategies to help adult Long Covid patients manage their symptoms.
Kirsty Stanley
Independent Occupational Therapist at Occupation4Life Ltd, Long Covid Kids will provide insights into OT techniques for children and young people living with Long Covid.
A Q&A session will follow.
It is expected the full webinar will last for approximately one hour but may continue for longer depending on length of Q&A session.
Please register to book your place Free tickets for webinar
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Tanja Buwalda, Co-Founder of LCAI is one of the speakers on Newstalk Lunchtime Live – discussion about Long Covid starts at 104 minutes Lunchtime live
Three years after covid closed the country, do we really need an inquiry?
https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/spotlight/arid-41090140.html
When will the Covid pandemic be over? Here’s what the experts say
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/when-will-the-covid-pandemic-be-over-heres-what-the-experts-say-42369688.html
Friday, 10 March 2023- Professor Luke O’Neill declares the pandemic’s over…Again. Is he right this time?
https://tessfinchlees.blogspot.com/2023/03/professor-luke-oneill-declares.html?m=1&s=08
Grainne Kelly a member of our team here at LCAI and a fantastic advocate for Long Covid patients in Ireland speaking on @NewstalkFM
https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/highlights-from-lunchtime-live/covid-inquiry-ignoring-that-were-still-not-through-it-says-long-covid-sufferer
Denis Naughton commissions poll that finds Leinster has highest rate of Long Covid. Read the report in Independent.ie
Leinster has highest rate of Long Covid and longest wait for treatment in specialist clinics
Tanja Buwalda speaks at the event to promote the new Covid Biobank
Irish Examiner article on Dail Motion
Transcript of Dail Eireann debate on Long Covid Services
Tanja Buwalda speaks on RTE News about how Long Covid limits life, it’s effectively a disability/
Dr Corrina Sadlier and Tanja Buwalda speak on RTE1 Drivetime
Study shoes that nearly 90% of those living with Long COVID have not returned to full health
Long Covid Advocacy Ireland 