By Sabrina Sweeney
Most people who choose a career in Ireland’s health service do so, not for the pay or the work-life balance, but because they care and want to make a difference in the lives of others.
These days, however, more and more are struggling to keep going.
A recent survey by Fórsa, Ireland’s largest public service union, revealed nearly 80 per cent of health and social care professionals feel undervalued in their roles, while more than 70 per cent said work-related stress was affecting their health.
At a union conference held in Letterkenny last week, delegates spoke openly about a workforce on the brink, with many exhausted, disillusioned about career progression and deeply concerned about patient safety.
Morale among healthcare staff has been in decline over the past decade, due to a complex range of issues including problems with governance, staffing and funding.
For those based in regional hospitals like Letterkenny, there’s the added sting of feeling left behind, both geographically and politically.
When morale goes, the ripple effects are profound. Communication breaks down, empathy is thin on the ground and errors increase. Patients, especially those who are older, more vulnerable, or require complex care, feel the shift most.
Staff suffer, too, as many who’ve entered the profession out of a deep personal calling find themselves overwhelmed and unable to do the job to the best of their ability. It affects nurses and doctors but also others who play a vital role in overall patient wellbeing, including clerical workers processing patient referrals, porters transporting sick patients between departments and social workers navigating patient discharges and care plans.
Poor morale isn’t just a symptom of a system in trouble; it’s a warning that should ring loudly in the ears of every one of us who’ll most likely need care at some point in the future. If we don’t look after our healthcare workers, they won’t be able to look after us.
Concerns are particularly acute for those who work at Letterkenny University Hospital. A recent HSE report revealed LUH was short dozens of key posts across health and administration, including medical social workers, speech and language therapists and radiographers.
Fórsa has warned that the hospital is “haemorrhaging staff,” with recruitment unable to keep pace with the numbers leaving. One delegate described working conditions as “completely unsustainable” because the system doesn’t provide the support for staff to be able to do their jobs properly.
As a society, we’ve come to rely too heavily on the goodwill of health workers, their compassion and their dedication. The fact that so many continue to show up day after day is testament to their strength, not to the health system’s sustainability.
But goodwill has limits and burnout is real. It’s one of the reasons so many staff members are off on sick leave. And that’s adding additional pressure on an already troubled health service.
So where do we go from here? Health is a policy issue – there’s a recognised need for proper investment, improved recruitment pipelines, competitive pay, and more flexible working conditions.
We also need a culture shift in how staff are treated, one that prioritises collaboration and equality. But there’s also a role for the public to play in the conversation. The HSE can’t be fixed overnight but we can take this issue with the utmost seriousness.
These are the people who will care for us when we are ill, when children are injured and when elderly parents need investigations and care. If they are waving a red flag, we must not look away. We can speak out.
We can support campaigns calling for safe staffing. We can write to elected representatives and put pressure on them to speak out about the need to prioritise healthcare. We can question decisions that see budget cuts or vacancies left unfilled, pushing for transparency around waiting lists and investment.
Morale among health workers is not a luxury. It’s not some vague, fluffy concept. It’s the very foundation on which patient care is built. And if that foundation crumbles, none of us is safe.
Healthcare staff are not asking for miracles. They’re asking to be able to do their jobs and that really shouldn’t be a radical demand.
Sabrina Sweeney’s Fresh Take column features every Thursday in the Donegal News
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