INMO welcomes appointment of chairwoman to lead Irish Covid-19 probe

Eva Osborne

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has welcomed the appointment of Professor Anne Scott to evaluate Ireland’s response to COVID-19.

The chairwoman will lead a comprehensive evaluation of how the country managed Covid-19, with the aim of learning lessons from the pandemic experience.

INMO general secretary, Phil Ní Sheaghdha, said: “We welcome the appointment of Professor Anne Scott to carry out an evaluation into the country’s response to Covid-19. The INMO welcomes the opportunity to set out how both the healthcare system, both public and private, responded to the Covid crisis.

“During the pandemic, nurses and midwives reorganised services, set up new services, and went to work in very hazardous circumstances prior to vaccine protection and after, to keep patient care as safe as possible under the very difficult conditions that existed.

"Covid has left lasting health impacts on some of our members, with many still suffering from Long Covid. The INMO continues to advocate for improved services to support them.

"For some, the pandemic marked the end of their careers, and tragically, it proved fatal for others. This was an exceptionally challenging time for nurses and midwives.

“Healthcare provision is and will continue to be very hazardous occupation and this must be acknowledged in this evaluation and future governments must put real and timely protections and supports in place for those who risk their future health for the good of others.”