Dr. Darina O'Flanagan:

The questions were how a patient might present and how they would be referred. A patient can present in two ways. As we have said, if a patient returns, they can see on the posters that if they have recently come back from an affected area, they should phone their GP. If they do so their GP will take their history, see what the symptoms are and decide either that they are at high risk or they are not. If they are at high risk, the GP will telephone the hospital to arrange a referral and he or she will be told where the patient is to be sent.

Next the patient goes for an assessment in the hospital. There is a risk assessment form they complete within the hospital to assess if they are high risk. Then they get a lab test taken which is sent to the National Virus Reference Laboratory. If the test is positive, the clinician phones the national isolation unit to discuss transfer to it and the national isolation unit contacts the National Ambulance Service to arrange the appropriate transfer.

The other issue raised was what happens if a case arises abroad but is repatriated. In that case it is a question of arranging the transfer from the airport where they land to the national isolation unit. Those protocols are in place with the National Ambulance Service to arrange that transfer.