Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Wexford has several of the finest nursing homes in the country. One is Knockeen nursing home run by Mary and Nicola Doran who are renowned for providing the highest standard of care to their residents. Unfortunately, Nicola Doran found she had to speak out in the Wexford Peoplethis week. The headline of the newspaper stated that testing at nursing homes was a "farce". Testing took place at Knockeen nursing home on 24 April and it waited 13 days on the test results. In a bizarre twist, on 29 March, a member of staff in the HSE told Nicola Doran that the HSE had the results but staff were not at liberty to give them out. Within 24 hours of publication of the report in the Wexford People, the results were made available and, thankfully, they were clear. The situation caused extreme and needless stress for the owners who were concerned to know that they did not have Covid-19 in the nursing home, the staff, many of whom are living with people who are compromised, and the families of the residents who were beside themselves with worry wondering whether their parents were in a home with Covid-19 and whether they could possibly be infected.

Daily in the national media, Government spokespersons tell us that nursing home testing is being turned around in 48 hours. Neither I nor anyone I have spoken to within the medical fraternity or politics has experience of any nursing home being in receipt of results within such a timeframe. Can the Taoiseach confirm to the House that all testing for nursing homes will be completed and turned around within 24 hours? After all, the national public health emergency team and the HSE have had eight weeks to get it right. The nursing homes that have borne the brunt of the questionable decisions of the State deserve at least the courtesy of knowing what the test results are in a timely fashion.

Many physicians and doctors that I have been in touch with are completely frustrated with the testing process. They tell me that most of the testing to date has been an absolute waste. This follows from what Deputy Shortall and possibly Deputy Kelly had in mind. The test results have been so old that it has been impossible to trace all the contacts of those who tested positive. As far as we are aware, the idea behind the model of "test, trace and isolate" is that this will be done in an immediate fashion. The Taoiseach has said that we now have the capacity to test 12,000 people. However, the real question is the capacity to have 12,000 results turned around in 24 hours. Can the Taoiseach confirm the numbers of tests we have? I gather the Taoiseach has already referred to a figure of 12,000 today. What is the turnaround time of delivering the results in 48 hours? What numbers are traced as a result of the positive tests already confirmed? Can the Taoiseach tell us how many people who tested positive recovered before they got their results? We will require these figures to be published to instil confidence and transparency.

I was pleased to see the roadmap. When it was produced it gave hope to people on an eventual easing of the restrictions. However, I believe the roadmap has not addressed the calamity of testing. I believe it was a missed opportunity. Again, no defined targets have been laid down for the HSE in respect of testing. A roadmap is like a house, and we cannot build a house without foundations. What we need is a testing roadmap with defined targets and deadlines for a testing regime, to underpin the opening of the Government roadmap. People want a clear vision of where they need to be. People want to see a trigger for each phased move forwards or backwards. Equally, there is no mention of a containment strategy. All of these things are fundamental to the success of the Government roadmap. I accept that we both know there have been issues in respect of reagents, personal protective equipment and the capacity at laboratories. However, the Taoiseach must also know that without a roadmap for testing that sets down defined targets to address and ensure results are turned around within 24 or 48 hours, the roadmap leads to a cul-de-sac. We have had eight weeks of lockdown. The public have played their part and they need clarity on testing. Can the Taoiseach confirm that such a roadmap will be provided and the date at which it will be provided?

I know the Taoiseach is only too aware that this is costing the country between €200 million and €400 million each working day. The Taoiseach must see the need for a roadmap on testing as I have outlined. The nation is at breaking point from being locked up. Testing is the only safe way of easing restrictions. I appeal to the Taoiseach to answer these questions.

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