Health chiefs today began a massive recruitment drive in the war on coronavirus.
They are pleading with any health care professionals not currently working in the public system to answer Ireland’s Call.
A massive campaign - ‘Be on Call For Ireland’ - was launched as Health Minister Simon Harris told retired and other experienced staff: “Your Country Needs You.”
It was also announced that all 1,000 medical graduates in the country this year will be offered internships in Ireland’s embattled hospitals.
They will be tasked with joining the frontline in what has been described as a war on the virus with 15,000 people expected to be infected here within 10 days.
Health Minister Simon Harris launched the drive today.
“It is a call for our medical professionals or health care professionals or healthcare workers to come help their country. Your country needs you,” Minister Harris said.
“We will hire everybody that we can to work in the Irish health service.
The Minister made a special plea to Irish healthcare workers abroad, to those working part-time and to medical students, saying “we need you”.
The plan will see the redeployment and secondment of existing healthcare workers to the frontline Covid-19 response, including increasing hours for part-time staff and overtime.
An online registry of new recruits and volunteers may be asked to care for other patients.
Mr Harris said that contact was being made with private hospitals to increase capacity in the health system, as well as the government ordering the opening of more ICU beds.
The recruitment campaign began on the HSE website today.
A message urged: “We are asking all healthcare professionals from all disciplines who are not already working in the public health service to register to be on call for Ireland.
“We will be creating extra hospital and care beds and will need extra hands to provide the care that’s needed. We need your help to meet the challenge that’s ahead.
“Maybe you aren’t a healthcare professional, maybe you’re studying to be one, or maybe you have other skills to offer or just want to volunteer to do your bit if needed.
“Hopefully we won’t need to call, and if we do, we may not need every one of you. But knowing you are there if we do will make all the difference.”
