The most recent statistics on Covid-19 show that a staggering half of all deaths from Covid-19 in Ireland have been in nursing homes. The concentration of cases in nursing homes has caused a high level of concern among staff many of whom are dealing with a shortage in PPE.

Sinn Féin TD for Tipperary Martin Brown said;

“I have been in contact with staff in a number of nursing homes across Tipperary who are deeply concerned about the supplies of PPE. I have in turn raised these concerns with the HSE who have claimed to be unaware of any shortages 

“This is not what I or other reps am hearing from workers on the frontline in Tipperary.

“These workers are caring for some of the most vulnerable people in our society are raising genuine concerns which I and my Sinn Féin colleagues will raise in the Dáil with the Minister.

“Today’s announcement that the HSE and health sector unions have agreed a system that will allow public healthcare workers to voluntarily transfer to private nursing homes is welcome, but without adequate PPE this is putting more frontline workers at risk unnecessarily.”