Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank Professor Ó Laoide. I now turn to one of the briefing notes the committee members were given on the lung cancer screening delay in Limerick. I am not sure which witness can answer my question on this. I was interested in the previous conversation around the lag we have experienced during Covid and whether this will have an impact on outcomes. Earlier we heard that for cervical cancer a six-month delay may not impact. It is my understanding that a three- to six-month delay for a lung cancer diagnosis can mean that a person could progress from one stage to the next. Will one of the witnesses talk about what the lung cancer diagnostic delay in Limerick looks like? The briefing note we have been given shows that, in 2019, there were 210 people referred and, in 2020, there were 128 people referred. This is nearly 80 people who have fallen outside the net. A certain amount of funding was put aside in the winter plan for GP diagnostics. From the note we have been given, it seems that this is where the lag appears to be coming into play, as GP referrals are down. Will the witnesses outline the plan to get those 80 people identified and back into the system?