Opinion

Editorial: All must help drive down Covid rates

We have heard numerous warnings over the strain on the health service in recent weeks but the latest from the main trade unions representing frontline staff presents the situation in especially stark terms.

In a letter written to Belfast trust management, members of Unison, Nipsa, the British Medical Association and the Royal College of Nursing set out their fears for the winter period.

The letter, seen by The Irish News, points to concerns that a 'perfect storm of problems' will cause a 'total breakdown of staff and services.'

The correspondence cites difficulties including high vacancy levels, increased sickness rates, stress, exhaustion and a growing staff retention problem, with unions noting "winter pressures have been here all year".

It has been clear for some time that staff shortages are a major issue. Last week we heard that eight ICU nurses quit their jobs due to burnout.

There are now worries about staff cover over the festive period.

The letter warns of "the inability to deliver safe and effective care when there are insufficient staff and resources".

Belfast trust says it shares the unions' concerns and while there is an acceptance that the many fundamental issues facing the health service are not going to be resolved in the next few weeks, clearly the pressures faced by stretched and exhausted staff need to be addressed.

Adding to what is an increasingly alarming picture, the Northern Ireland director of the Royal College of Surgeons yesterday told Stormont's health committee that our health service is facing pressures 'never before seen on these shores.'

Mark Taylor said that red flag cancer operations are being cancelled on a regular basis while our waiting list crisis is worsening.

No one can be in any doubt that our health and social care system is in a dire situation.

We are also hearing of major challenges within the education sector with one union calling for schools to close early before Christmas as a circuit breaker.

Recent figures show that Northern Ireland has a higher infection rate per 100,000 people than Britain or the Republic.

We now have the Omicron variant causing further concern.

At this crucial time, it is incumbent on all of us to play our part in helping to prevent the spread of Covid.

Wearing masks, washing hands, maintaining social distance and getting vaccinated are all steps that can help us get through the next few weeks and months.