HSE Confirms 2,676 people got Covid in hospitals between June and February
Following a written parliamentary question from Aontú leader, Meath TD, Peadar Tóibín, to the Minister for Health, the HSE has today confirmed that between 21st June 2020 and 28th February 2021, a total of 2,676 people contracted Covid 19 in hospitals around the country.
Responding to the figure, Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín TD said:
“The information that I have received shows that from June 2020 to February 2021, over 2,600 people caught Covid in Hospital. Given that this is roughly half the timescale of the illness in the state, the total number is likely to be far higher. This is an incredible. Hospitals should be the location of treatment and cure, however in reality, for many people, they were the place where they caught this deadly virus. I know of many families that had loved ones enter hospital for non Covid reasons only to catch Covid in Hopsital and lose their life”.
“Indeed the Hospital setting was by far one of the most dangerous places for Covid to circulate. Outside Nursing Homes, hospitals contained the most at risk sector of society. While there is no doubt that most hospitals did their best to keep the illness out, there are examples where serious questions need in terms of management need to be answered. There are also questions that need to be answered as to why Health Care staff were forced to work in grossly understaffed environments while tens of thousands of people who applied to the Department’s “Be on Call for Ireland” recruitment initiative were never employed. Last week the Minister confirmed to me that there has been, already, a case brought against the States Claims Agency by a family who lost a loved one allegedly in this circumstance”, concluded Deputy Tóibín.
Response to PQ - 1963821 - final
