Mr. David Walsh:

I have a short opening statement. I thank the Chairman and members for the invitation to meet the Special Committee on Covid-19 Response. As noted, I am joined by my colleagues, Dr. Siobhán Kennelly and Ms Sandra Tuohy.

I wish to begin by taking the opportunity to again express my condolences to the families and relatives of those deceased as a result of Covid-19 and, in particular, those who were residents of nursing homes.

The Health Service Executive welcomes the publication of the report of the COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel Examination of Measures to 2021. The HSE is committed to working in partnership with the relevant public and private agencies to implement the recommendations within the report.

The report recognises the unprecedented effort made to support long-term care facilities and their residents, and the immediate responses put in place to support them whether under public, private or voluntary governance. These supports must now become more permanent in nature and work to achieve this has commenced across many of the recommendations. In particular, infection prevention and control infrastructure, PPE, Covid response teams and enhanced clinical supports are an immediate priority. The HSE winter plan, which is currently being finalised, will reflect how these supports will be embedded within services.

The continued development and implementation of the HSE's integrated care programme for chronic diseases, the integrated care programme for older persons and the further development of community healthcare networks, in partnership with general practice, form essential supports to all those who are vulnerable in our communities, including those in long-term care. As already mentioned, we have commenced work on the HSE actions in the report, and will work with the Department of Health and other partners to implement the recommendations that require either policy change or policy development. A comprehensive approach to addressing the future of how older persons' needs are met will require a whole-of-government and a whole-of-society approach with significant development of, and investment in, alternative care and housing models required.

The surest way of protecting residents in long-term care from Covid-19 is to work with communities to suppress the virus in the community. The public health advice and guidance to the population as a whole, along with a comprehensive testing and tracing strategy, form the core of the protective measures against this disease. The earlier phases of this pandemic showed clearly that where the virus is prevalent in the community the risk to those in long-term care in those communities rises commensurately. Suppressing the virus in the community protects everyone in that community.

In conclusion, I reiterate the support and commitment of the HSE to the implementation of the recommendations of this report. That concludes my statement.