Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Calleary for raising the issue and join him in acknowledging the passing of many of our citizens from Covid-19. I often feel somewhat uneasy when we speak about progress in statistics and figures but we are not talking about them in a vacuum. This is a virus that has caused a lot of tragedy to an awful lot of people and we think of them. I thank Deputy Calleary for raising the matters on Mayo hospital. He was in direct contact with me on these issues. I am advised by Saolta hospital group that appropriate control measures are in place in Mayo University Hospital for Covid-19. As is the case across hospitals, Mayo University Hospital has adjusted how care is delivered to patients as well as continuously implementing updated national advice. Actions taken include streaming patients into Covid and non-Covid pathways. This did require some physical changes to the hospital, including a new entrance. Where possible, patients are treated in single rooms. However, given the infrastructure of the hospital, it is not always possible to provide single rooms for patients, which was the point the Deputy made about isolation facilities.

Patients who attend the hospital through the emergency department are also separated into suspect and non-suspect Covid-19 patients. Suspected Covid-19 patients who attend the emergency department are tested in rapid turnaround time. While every effort is made to ensure patients are streamed separately, occasionally it will happen that a person in a designated non-Covid space will turn out to be positive, but he or she may not have shown any symptoms. Patients who develop symptoms consistent with Covid-19 on a ward are tested rapidly and transferred to a Covid-19 ward if diagnosed positive. The hospital has separated its clinical staff into teams to minimise contact and to reduce the risk of healthcare worker and patient infection. Again, that is all based on the national guidance provided at that time.

Saolta has provided executive microbiology and infectious disease input into the management of Covid-19 in Mayo, but in light of the serious issues Deputy Calleary raises I will now ask the CEO of the HSE for a report on the matters he raised with me, and that report to include information on the testing levels of staff. My understanding is that the national public health emergency team is likely to broaden the case definition for testing at its meeting tomorrow. It is certainly something under consideration. I will also ask specifically about the supports for the district hospitals in Ballina, Swinford and across Mayo, and for a view on the derogation. I will get the Deputy a written report from the CEO.

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