The HSE has issued a statement condemning “all incidents of racist abuse and assaults,” stating that the operation of Ireland’s health services would be “seriously threatened” without international workers.
Chief People Officer of the HSE, Anne Marie Hoey said that the HSE “unequivocally condemns all incidents of racist abuse and assaults of people from abroad, their families and the wider community”.
“It is unacceptable. People should not be afraid to leave their house or go to work for fear of abuse.”
In a press release accompanying the statement, it’s stated that 15 percent of the entire HSE workforce is made up of international workers.
Healthcare professionals from India, Africa and other Asian countries account for 23 percent of HSE nurses and midwives, it reads.
“We are deeply grateful to international workers who have chosen to move their lives and families to Ireland to work with the HSE and help provide essential care and support for patients. We are saddened to hear reports that some international staff, now fearful for their personal safety, are considering moving away,” Ms Hoey said, adding “this will have a dramatic impact on staff levels and the provision of health services and should be a cause for alarm for people in this country”.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the HSE said that the organisation is “proud” of its “diverse workforce, all of whom are critical for provision of services for patients across Ireland”.