Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The key question, then, is whether it is always notified. Is there a follow-up system in place after diagnosis? If GPs and clinicians in general are unaware of the disease, then they are probably also unaware of the fact that it is a notifiable disease. I ask the witnesses for their observations on that issue.

On the broader issue, home care packages were mentioned. Witnesses also spoke of the need for the HSE to have a better understanding of the needs of sufferers. Why is it that one has to go to Germany for antibiotic treatment? Such treatment does not seem to be too technically complicated and I do not understand why it cannot be provided here. Why do patients have to go to Germany? Is it because we do not understand the disease or because we cannot provide the necessary treatment for it here?