Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

On that point, there are lessons we can learn post Covid. For instance, 40 people can get an invitation to see a consultant at 9.30 a.m. and another 40 in the afternoon. Maybe we can do things differently in that regard and make better use of consultants' time. The phone call idea for a consultation can work in many cases. It is probably not the same as meeting the consultant or doctor but it can help.

The other positive message is we hear about new drugs all the time. In yesterday's newspapers we read about a new drug discovered in Scotland. Again, life chances are increasing all the time with new treatment. The positive message needs to come across. I cannot get my head around the idea of people not attending their appointments. This happened pre-Covid as well. The number of people who did not turn up for BreastCheck was quite high. People were sent a bowel cancer test and did not use it because it was somehow uncomfortable or they did not like to do it. It is absolute nonsense because, at the end of the day, if this saves a life or the life of someone belonging to you, someone you love, you would take those tests.

On the one in six issue and the research on people who said they had difficulty attending doctor's referrals and so on, was some of this, again, down to mixed messaging? For instance, it was difficult to get in touch with a GP during the Covid pandemic. People were told to go to their GPs only for urgent cases and so on. Did some of that mixed messaging move through the population and people said they were not really that sick? Maybe that is something we need to concentrate on now. We will make a statement after today's meeting if people feel that is helpful. We will take up the issue of Irish consultants not being brought into the discussion on healthcare.

Is there anything else? One of my colleagues, Deputy Burke, wants to come back in. Specifically, is there anything else people want to make a point on? We are coming to the end of our session. What else can this committee do as part of its work, especially around the area of cancer? I am conscious some cases can be down to lifestyle, obesity, alcohol, diet and so on, which all have an impact on health and the growth of cancers. We also need to send out the message to people that we all have cancers in our body, but some are switched on and others switched off. However, it is not the death sentence some people seem to think it is. It is important we keep reiterating that. Does anyone else want to come in? I will then let Deputy Burke in.