This year will be defined in many ways as the year when the Covid-19 restrictions were finally lifted. While those dark days may be gone, the impact and the memory of the pandemic will live on for years to come.
This year will be defined in many ways as the year when the Covid-19 restrictions were finally lifted.
Of course, Covid-19 has not gone away and the World Health Organisation says it will be with us for years. It is still unclear whether Covid-19 vaccinations will be a part of the regular winter vaccination campaigns.This was also the year when Ireland lost the brave campaigner Vicky Phelan to cervical cancer.
These are big challenges for the Taoiseach and Stephen Donnelly, who remains as Minister for Health after the reshuffle. The highest level recorded on a single day was 760 on 6 January 2020, just before the pandemic arrived. That figure was matched again on 19 December this year. That is a net increase of 1,000 beds with a population now past 5 million people and an ageing population with growing health needs.Ten years ago, the day-to -day spend was €13.5 billion. Now it is almost €23 billion. Much of the funding goes on the sizeable staff number of over 132,300 people.During the pandemic years, we saw fewer cases of colds and flu and other respiratory illnesses. However, they are back this year.
This week, it warned that it expects a surge in winter virus infections in the weeks ahead that will bring the highest pressure on the State's health service it has ever seen.This is also the first Christmas and New Year unhindered by Covid-19 restrictions. That in itself is something to celebrate.
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