Dáil debates

Thursday, 7 May 2020

Covid-19 (Health): Statements

 

6:30 pm

Photo of Mary ButlerMary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Once again, I would like to speak about nursing and care homes. I acknowledge the Minister's statement to the effect that, based on the preliminary data, the number of cases has declined from approximately 100 a day in early April to approximately 50 a day towards the end of last week. I pay tribute to and thank the fantastic staff in all the nursing and care homes throughout the country for the work they have done over the past two months. They have gone far beyond the call of duty.

On Tuesday last, I visited St. Carthage's House in Lismore, a care home for 42 residents. It is a fantastic facility for people with low to moderate dependencies. I called to deliver hand sanitiser supplied by Irish Distillers and distributed through Irish Rural Link. Unfortunately, couriers were unable to deliver due to the alcohol content so I took on the delivery for the Waterford area. Delivering the hand sanitiser outside the premises, observing social distancing, I commented that the staff were in terrific form. They told me that all 42 residents and staff had been tested, results had come back and every one of them was Covid-19 free. The concern for residents and staff had been ongoing for weeks, since the pandemic started, and it is the same in all facilities. There should be regular testing of staff and residents in nursing and care homes, perhaps on a monthly or bimonthly basis. The pandemic has borne down heaviest on older people, particularly those in nursing homes and residential facilities. The most recent figures indicate that 740 nursing home residents have passed away having contracting the coronavirus. That is more than half of all the confirmed deaths.

I am aware that testing has been ramped up in nursing homes in recent weeks and I understand that more than 90% of residents and staff have now been tested. That is welcome, but it is an exercise that should be repeated on a consistent basis. Does the Minister agree that there should be testing on a consistent basis, perhaps monthly or bimonthly? Hopefully, it could be done in-house because the faces of those at St. Carthage's who knew they were Covid-19 free were a joy to behold.

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