The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has urged the Government to act immediately to deliver childcare for health service workers to enable them to attend work and treat patients affected by Covid-19.
The Government decision to close schools and crèches earlier this month has left some healthcare workers including doctors, nurses and support staff unable to attend work, particularly as fallback childcare assistance from older relatives has been ruled out by HSE guidelines on social distancing, cocooning and the restriction on movement.
INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said that childcare can be expensive and difficult at the best of times, but warned school and creche closures have pushed the problem to "breaking point".