Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Let there be no doubt that Covid-19 had a significant impact on non-Covid illness and disease. In my view, it resulted in delayed diagnoses across cancer and coronary care and in other areas. That happened because at the time of the lockdown many elective procedures and diagnostics were cancelled and significant backlogs built up. I accept and agree with the Deputy that some people are now manifesting later stage conditions as a result, it seems to me, of delayed diagnosis. Some people have told me they did not wish to go hospital. One person to whom I spoke decided not to go to hospital but is now okay. The person got a procedure done by a general practitioner that would ordinarily be carried out in a hospital. That is one of the challenges of Covid. The lockdown had an impact on non-Covid care. There was a fear about going to hospital. We are dealing with a new virus and I am not apportioning blame. I have asked the HSE to try to get specifics but that will take a bit of work in terms of comparing a whole year's diagnostic figures. Let us be clear that the figures will have to be compiled hospital by hospital in terms of diagnosis and it is not-----

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