Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Let me be clear that I, the Department, the HSE and the Oireachtas wish to be in a position to recommence our population screening programmes as soon as possible. It is a collective priority for us all. I am glad to inform the Deputy that the four programmes - obviously, there are four parts to our screening service - will report on their final plans for restarting in the coming days. Yesterday, I had a very good meeting with the CEO of the HSE, Mr. Paul Reid, and its chief clinical officer, Dr. Colm Henry, and I had a very good meeting today with the chief executive of the National Screening Service.

I emphasise that although some people state that certain things can open - I know the Deputy did not mean it like that - there is a complexity in respect of getting our screening services right. It must be safe for patients and staff and give people the confidence to begin to come forward again. We must remember they are often healthy people who volunteer to come forward into the health service. Screening often involves tests or examinations that can present challenges for staff running these programmes in light of the need to comply with physical distancing measures.

A working group has been established and it is chaired by Dr. Caroline Mason, a clinician. I thank her for her work. It reports to the chief clinical officer, Dr. Henry, and is reviewing the individual programme plans for recommencement and developing a framework to support the safe restart of all four programmes. For example, Deputy Donnelly referred to CervicalCheck. There are three parts to it. First, there are the sample takers, who are largely GPs and nurses. I accept they are probably in a good place to go. Second, there is making sure we have treatment pathways from a colposcopy point of view and, third, there are the laboratories. We need to ensure each of those three parts are lined up in order that we can have a seamless recommencement.

On the issue of private hospitals, I wish to ensure we use the time left, that is, to the end of this month, to put a successor arrangement in place. I explained last week in the House that several services have transferred almost entirely from the public health service to the private health service, particularly in the space of cancer care. I listed them last week. I wish to ensure we use the time available in order that we do not hit a cliff edge and have no agreement or a vacuum. That is why we decided to use the time between now and the end of June to negotiate what I think will be a better and more fit-for-purpose deal.

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