Ms Nicola Perry:

I am not sure there is a breakdown. The Hepatitis C Partnership believes we are behind because of the pandemic. We can put that point on the shelf while acknowledging it. Many people were treated initially. It was important that nearly 6,000 people were treated after the advent of the use of these particular DAA drugs. We have made the point a couple of times that many people were waiting to be treated. They were on the books, if you like, and moved forward when the treatment became available and they took that treatment. Because of the nature of the disease, as we have debated this morning, it is the case that people sometimes do not know they have it or know they have it for a period of time, as Mr. Murphy said earlier, but because it is not symptomatic, they do not feel compelled to do anything about it. It may also be the case that a patient is afraid of people's perceptions, including those of the medical professionals. I do not think there is a breakdown. A concerted effort needs to be made. If I am sitting in Athlone this afternoon and there may be some reason for me to think I have become exposed to hepatitis C, there are a couple of things that need to happen. I need to know that might be the case so I need to understand the risks involved. We learned from the report that only 30% of medical professionals would agree that everyone who possibly needs to be tested has been.