Paul Murphy raises alarm over child Covid hospitalisations
Paul Murphy highlighted new Covid hub figures showing high levels of child hospitalisation and urged a cautious approach to lifting mask guidance. He questioned officials on the impact on ICU capacity, long Covid and the wider health service.
Hospitalisation figures
The latest figures to the end of January 2022 show 217 hospitalisations for children aged 0-4 and 172 for ages 5-14. Murphy noted these compare with monthly averages of about 25 and a bit less than 20 respectively during 2021 and said more hospital days for children have already been recorded this year than in all of 2021.
Masks and public health guidance
Murphy asked whether it would be correct to take a very cautious approach to lifting recommendations on masks and public health guidance, citing risks to ICU capacity, hospitalisation and the approximately 10% who may suffer long Covid. The Taoiseach replied that he had spoken to the chief medical officer, who reported overall stabilisation and said there was not a current conversion to ICUs.
Advice versus mandatory rules
The Taoiseach drew a distinction between public health guidance and legally mandatory requirements. He said the chief medical officer will advise government on whether a legal mandatory framework for mask wearing is justified and that advice will be considered over the next few days.
Waiting lists, staffing and funding
A new multi-annual plan for waiting lists will be announced; a short-term plan prior to Christmas reduced the list by about 6% but Omicron affected progress in December and January. The Taoiseach said €350 million is being provided this year and the HSE will be funded to recruit staff, with an indication they can realistically net recruit 5,500 for 2022 and receive additional funding if they recruit more.
HPV screening and vaccinations
Murphy raised HPV screening and vaccination for young people. The Taoiseach said the matter will be followed up to ensure the vaccination programme is as comprehensive as possible.
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New figures have literally just come out on the Covid hub about the levels of hospitalisation of children due to Covid and they are very concerning so the figures go to the end of January 2022 hospitalisations for those between zero and four 217 that compares to the numbers throughout the course of 2021 of about an average of about 25 a month 217 zero to four-year-olds in hospital due to Covid right now and 55 to 14 year olds 172 comparing to an average of a bit less than 20 throughout the course of 2021 already we're at the point where more hospital days in terms of children we've had due to Covid this year than the entirety of 2021 that tallies with what we're hearing in terms of schools 14,000 unprecedented numbers of teachers out due to Covid we know the risks here in terms of ICU in terms of hospitalisation in terms of hospitalisation in terms of the impact on the rest of the health service and in terms of the 10% who will suffer from long Covid so in light of all of that data do you not think it is correct to take a very cautious approach in terms of lifting the recommendation in terms of masks and in terms of the public health guidance which is in there in place to protect people Murphy Murphy raised the issue in terms of hospitalisation in terms of hospitalisation and hospitalisation of zero to four-year-olds again I spoke to the chief medical officer this morning and he's very clear that there's as far as far as he's concerned there's been a stabilisation overall in terms of hospitalisation and we didn't specifically discuss children he said the conversion is not there at the moment to ICUs or indeed more generally in terms of hospitalisation and we're basically where they were hoping to be when we lifted restrictions some weeks ago we are where they would have expected us to be at this time so they're reasonably satisfied with the continuing progress we are making in relation to Covid-19 that will inform their decisions in terms of advice that they will give to government in respect of mask wearing more generally and in schools I would draw a distinction between public health guidance and advice and that which is mandatory and what has to be assessed is is there a justification for a legal mandatory framework which makes it you know a legal requirement to wear masks and that's an issue that an effort will advise government on over the next while next couple of days and government will take decisions based on that and so that that is the up-to-date position I've received from the chief medical officer and I will revert back to inquire in respect of children and what the position there is as you've outlined in terms of deputy Kelly's points and there will be a new plan to be announced in terms of waiting lists the plan that was the short-term plan prior to Christmas did have an impact and brought down list by about 6% then Omicron had its impact in terms of December January and so it's both a plan for 2022 and so it's both a multi-annual plan and so it's both a plan for 2022 and a multi-annual plan and 350 million is being provided this year in respect of that in terms of the funding there's the issue the HSE will be funded to recruit as many staff as they possibly can and the indications are that they can definitely feel they can do 5,500 would be what they would realistically be able to net now recruit for 2022 for 2022 if they can do more they'll be provided with funding to do more and I take your point on HPV screening and vaccinations in particular and I think deputy Christopher or deputy audio is that would mean yes in terms of vaccination of young people in respect of HPV and we're following that up to make sure it's as comprehensive as it can be and that is a very important piece of work
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