Page 2100 - Week 07 - Thursday, 20 August 2020
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those. I know that this already very challenging work—working with some of the most vulnerable people in our community at the worst points in their lives—has been made even harder by the COVID-19 period. Our mental staff have been under more pressure than ever. I am very grateful for their work.
In talking about our mental health staff, the focus tends to be on areas like the emergency department, where mental health staff are present, and the inpatient units, but it extends right through the system, including to our community mental health centres, where staff have had to support the members of the community who have gone through a range of emotions during this period. I also want to take this opportunity to reflect on our community sector partners, because certainly in the mental health space—and I know that it is the same in the health space—community partners do a lot of the work in the system and are very integrated. They have been an important part of this story, as well.
Organisations such as Lifeline, Menslink, MIEACT and the group now known as the Perinatal Wellbeing Centre—it used to be PANDSI—have spoken to me about the pressures on them during this period. Staff at headspace and at Marymead have had to step up during this period, as well. They play an incredibly important part in our system. So whilst today’s motion is formally about the public service, as we reflect on staff in our healthcare system it is important also to reflect on the staff, and in some cases volunteers, who work in our community sector organisations that so importantly integrate with government service providers. I feel that I could make these points for some time. One of the great privileges of playing the role that I play now—a privilege all MLAs have—is that I get opportunities to step into spaces that I might not otherwise be able to. We get invited to go to some of these things and to talk to people, and we get real insights that give us opportunities. Having a day like today to reflect on that is very welcome.
In terms of the other part of Mrs Dunne’s motion—the amendments that were made after the close of business yesterday, around pay issues—it is obviously of great concern to us to have these issues raised. I was surprised to see the changes so late, but also to hear Mrs Dunne say today that she had been working on this for some time. It did feel a little incongruent; but the bottom line is that this is a question that we need to take very seriously. I was pleased to hear today the remarks from the Minister for Health that this has already been identified, and pleased to hear some of the details she provided about the work that is being done to make sure that staff are paid fairly, appropriately, and accurately, for the work that they have done. I have circulated an amendment which picks up that point. Certainly, for me, it is incredibly important that, given how hard our staff work, and just as a matter for decency and integrity, they are paid fairly and accurately.
Also, in light of the questions that have been raised by Mrs Dunne, and the information I was given by the health minister earlier today, and the further comments she has made in the chamber now, I think it is appropriate that the Minister for Health report back to the Assembly on the work that is being done. I am pleased that that work is already underway—that it did not take an Assembly motion. I would expect that our health service would get on with this work. Mistakes will happen in payroll from time to time, whether it is in the private sector or the public sector. We wish that
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