Written answers

Wednesday, 27 May 2020

Photo of Robert TroyRobert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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547. To ask the Minister for Health if he or his officials have engaged with a person (details supplied) regarding their advice on the significant need to upscale tracing and tracking here in order to avoid a second wave of the Covid-19 virus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7474/20]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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A robust process of testing, isolation and contact tracing is central to Ireland’s public health strategy for containing and slowing the spread of COVID-19, as advocated by the World Health Organization and the European Centre for Disease Control. A testing and tracing process with sufficient capacity and quick turnaround is one of a number of core criteria in determining when it is safe for countries to reduce restrictive public health measures.

The HSE, together with the Department of Health and other bodies, has worked hard in the last two months to develop Ireland’s testing and tracing process, to expand capacity and to reduce turnaround times.

A designated team, led by a senior manager reporting directly to the CEO, has been established in the HSE to oversee the development, management and operation of Ireland’s testing and contact tracing process. This includes responsibility for the scaling up of capacity and the speeding up of turnaround times with a clear focus on achieving ambitious targets and continuous improvement. On 14 May the HSE launched its Roadmap for testing and tracing with clear targets and a range of actions to achieve these targets.

Significant progress has been made over the last two months. 47 community testing centres have been established; over 40 laboratories are processing tests; 9 new contact tracing centres have been set up and some 1,700 public servants have been trained in contact tracing to support the work of public health departments. A quick testing referral pathway for GPs is in place, and new IT systems have been developed or modified. The HSE advise that it now has the capacity to test 15,000 people a day and median turnaround times have continued to improve.

It is important to recognise these systems and capacity have been developed from a standing start and to recognise the tremendous work which has gone into getting us to the point we are now at. It is also important to recognise the context in which this is happening: Ireland is already testing at a higher rate than most countries and our targets are ambitious. Data published on 18 May shows Ireland ranks 4th highest out of 25 EU+UK countries in terms of tests completed as a percentage of the overall population.

Ireland's testing strategy has evolved as our testing capacity has grown. A number of changes have been made to the case definition so that anyone presenting with acute respiratory infection comprising the sudden onset of least one of the following symptoms (cough, fever, shortness of breath) can be referred for testing. A mass testing programme across nursing homes, mental health and disability facilities is nearing completion, and, as of last week, all close contacts of someone with Covid-19 will be automatically referred for testing. Our testing strategy will continue to be kept under review by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).

In relation to the specific question raised, I have not had any direct engagement with the person referred to and I'm not aware of any engagement with my officials.

Photo of Cathal CroweCathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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548. To ask the Minister for Health if he will engage with the owners of a location (details supplied) to explore its potential as a use for pharmaceutical firms in their efforts to research treatment for Covid-19 [7479/20]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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This information has been shared with the Department of Health COVID-19 team who are managing and co-ordinating offers of assistance.

Photo of Mary ButlerMary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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549. To ask the Minister for Health the number of patients transferred from acute hospitals to a step down facility, nursing home, community nursing unit or other residential care facility during March 2020, in tabular form; the number of these patients that were tested for Covid-19 prior to transfer; the number of these patients that contracted Covid-19 after their transfer; the number of such patients that have now recovered; the number that died; and the equivalent data for April 2020. [7488/20]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The HSE through the Health Protective Surveillance Centre has developed an extensive body of guidance and support tools to assist in the management of COVID-19 cases, including in relation to decisions on transfer of patients/residents between care facilities where appropriate.

The current relevant guidelines are the: “Interim Public Health and Infection Prevention Control Guidelines on the Prevention and Management of COVID-19 Cases and Outbreaks in Residential Care Facilities and Similar Units”, version 4.1, 04/05/2020.

The decision to discharge patients from hospital to nursing home settings is subject to clinical assessment. Discharges to nursing homes and other settings are a regular, daily feature of a functioning health system. The period from early March to mid-April saw an increase in the number of such discharged patients as the health system prepared itself for the expected ‘surge’ in COVID-19 cases. From an older person’s perspective, being admitted for longer than necessary increases the risk of a patient contracting a healthcare associated infection and/or deconditioning. The vast majority of these discharges took place from the 10th March onwards, when clear public health guidance was in place.

On the 10th March 2020, the HSE issued Interim Guidance on Transfer between Care Facilities, which included preliminary guidance on the transfer of hospitalised patients from an acute hospital to a residential care facility in the context of the global COVID-19 pandemic. The guidance based on the best available information at the time set out the various procedures to be followed, including:

- Patients with COVID-19 should not be transferred to a LTRC until they had two consecutive tests indicating virus not detected.

- Patients who were symptomatic and were contacts of a confirmed COVID-19 case should only transfer if the persons had a test indicating virus not detected and it was possible for that person to be isolated for the relevant incubation period;

- Patients who were asymptomatic and were contacts of a confirmed COVID-19 case should only transfer if it was possible for that person to be isolated for the relevant incubation period;

- Transfers from hospitals with no evidence of spread of COVID-19 should proceed as normal, except patients with respiratory tract infection meeting the then criteria for COVID-19 testing – in those cases testing should be carried out and the result should be virus not-detected before transfer.

With regard to the query raised in respect of numbers of patients, this data is not readily available to my Department but I will follow up with the HSE to seek further information.

Photo of Mary ButlerMary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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550. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to recommence BreastCheck which ceased during the Covid-19 pandemic; the procedures that will be put in place to protect both staff and patients; his further plans to deal with the backlog that occurred during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7495/20]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

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