Yesterday (Thursday) marked one year since the HSE Area Crisis Management Team for Cork and Kerry met for the first time in relation to COVID-19, and today (Friday) they are thanking the community for their ongoing support during such a difficult time.

The HSE Area Crisis Management Team met 81 times in 2020, and continues to meet at least twice a week at the moment as all parts of the health service respond to a third wave of COVID-19.

The Area Crisis Management Team is chaired by Michael Fitzgerald, the Chief Officer of Cork Kerry Community Healthcare. Senior managers from across the health services in both counties meet through the team to co-ordinate plans and provide the best possible response to COVID-19 challenges. The team brings together representatives from acute hospitals, from community services, from vital support services along with experts in emergency management.

Chair of the Area Crisis Management Team Michael Fitzgerald said that all healthcare staff have been boosted throughout the crisis by the support of the public in Cork and Kerry.

“Our teams in all parts of the health service have been working non-stop to protect communities, and when possible to keep other services running. In the last month, they have faced the biggest challenges of the pandemic. At all times, the support of the people of Cork and Kerry has been behind them, and our staff are very grateful for this. They are particularly grateful for the ongoing efforts which people are making to stop the spread of COVID-19, as this is beginning to make a difference,” Mr Fitzgerald said.

Gerry O’Dwyer, CEO of the South/South West Hospital Group paid tribute to all staff working in the health service who have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to provide the highest quality of care in the most difficult of circumstances in probably the most challenging year ever in healthcare.

“On behalf of all our incredible, dedicated staff, we have to ask you to keep up your efforts and continue to obey the Government and Public Health Guidelines. We are hopeful that the vaccination programme will enable us to reach a stage where restrictions can be relaxed, but this will take time and will require continued support by the public, who have already made huge efforts to adhere to the restrictions. Until then, the best thing we can all do to protect our hospitals, our nursing homes and our healthcare workers is to stay at home as much as possible, limit our contacts, wash our hands and wear our masks,” Mr O’Dwyer said.

Dr Anne Sheahan, acting Director of Public Health for the region, said that it’s clear that the people of both counties are following public health advice and avoiding contact with anyone outside their household.

“We can clearly see that transmission in the community has dropped. Unfortunately, there will be a lag of several weeks before that will be felt in the health services. For now, all health services remain under significant pressure and we all need to continue our efforts a little longer. Unfortunately, if we ease up at all, then transmission rates will go back up quickly and we all know the toll that takes on vital health services,” Dr Sheahan said.

Dr Sheahan added that it’s understandable that people may leave their guard down slightly once transmission rates in the community reduce, but warned that this would again increase the ongoing pressure on hospitals, nursing homes and the testing system.