Bríd Smith TD has expressed her outrage at the Department of Education’s recent direction that: “All pregnant employees up to 14 weeks gestation should attend the workplace unless they are categorised by Medmark as ‘Very High Risk.'”
The TD has become increasingly concerned about this issue following the number of “immensely stressed and upset” teachers who have contacted her with very serious concerns in recent weeks. They question why the provision which allowed pregnant and medically vulnerable teachers and SNAs to work remotely between March-June 2021 is being revoked at a time when the 14-day incident rate for Coronavirus is now at its highest level since January of this year.
Deputy Smith reminded the Government of the Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar’s response when she raised the concerns of pregnant teachers late last year. Leo Varadkar was unequivocal in stating then that:“I would have thought that if someone is advised by a doctor to take health and safety leave or sick leave during pregnancy, that would be enough. Certainly, when I was practicing as a general practitioner, if a pregnant woman came into my surgery and I believed it was appropriate for her to take health and safety leave or sick leave, I would certify it. I have never come across it being second-guessed by someone else.”
Bríd Smith asked how Minister Foley can reconcile the position taken by the Tánaiste in November 2020 with that now adopted by the Department of Education. She would particularly like the Minister to clarify the grounds on which the professional medical advice received by individual teachers and SNAs is now to be “second-guessed” and set aside in favour of the decision of Medmark – a private occupational health company.
Deputy Smith said that “it is particularly reckless to allow the fate of pregnant and medically vulnerable teachers and SNAs to be determined by a private entity such as Medmark.” She reminds the Department that Medmark’s own website describes occupational healthcare as “an astute investment” and boasts of its “clear business approach to occupational healthcare and medical services.”
People Before Profit has previously taken issue with the authority which the Government has vested in Medmark. It has called for the complete overhaul of the Occupational Health Service in the Department of Education and for its replacement with a fair and equitable service. Deputy Smith is adamant that that overhaul must now take place as a matter of urgency.Pending the outcome of that review, Deputy Smith insists that “the medical advice which teachers and SNAs have received from their own doctors must once again given precedence. No pregnant or medically vulnerable teacher or SNA must be forced by the Department of Education into a workplace situation where the health would be at risk of being irredeemably compromised.”
