1.Public health in Ireland is at a crossroads.
We are the midst of what is likely to be long slog with COVID-19.
This pandemic has shone a harsh light on the chronic lack of investment and neglect into our division.

2. This lack of attention to our division has been longstanding, evidenced by the fact we were left in the old Health Board configuration , which we still remain in. We have asked time and again for investment and reform to allow us to work at the top of our licence..

3. ..and use our skills to protect the health of the people of Ireland. Numerous reports have recommended that Specialists in Public Health get a consultant contract and reforms happen to create multidisciplinary teams around us.

4. These changes are not revolutionary, although they might sound like they are. A person who is qualified like me in any other similar country would expect these as a matter of course. Ireland’s Public Health service is an outlier in this regard.

5. Our staff are demoralised. It’s difficult to see a future for a specialty that is so fundamentally undermined. I’m hoping that @DonnellyStephen will support our transformation into a world class Public Health service.
@NICU_doc_salone @CarolineMasonM1 @mac_fionn