Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1045. To ask the Minister for Health the way in which he will bring forward the reintroduction of all health screening programmes; and the changes he has made since he took up office in order to speed up the launch of such services that were announced under his predecessor. [14876/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The National Screening Service’s (NSS) population-based screening programmes BreastCheck, CervicalCheck, BowelScreen and Diabetic RetinaScreen were temporarily paused in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

These measures aligned with the National Public Health Emergency Team’s (NPHET) recommendations which have as their goal to minimise the spread of COVID 19. In making this decision, the health, wellbeing and safety of screening service users and staff is the priority for the NSS.

The Covid-19 pandemic has led to an unprecedented interruption to normal health services both in the community and acute hospitals. Since the COVID-19 pandemic started, the NSS has monitored the feasibility of restarting the four programmes.

As such, I am pleased to inform you that the phased resumption of the NSS population screening programmes has started as part of the HSE overall plan to resume its health services that had been paused due to the Covid-19 pandemic. CervicalCheck began sending invites and reminders to participants in its cervical screening programme on the 06 of July, Diabetic RetinaScreen will also resume screening in July. BreastCheck and BowelScreen will resume screening in September/October.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1046. To ask the Minister for Health the details of the catch-up programme he is introducing in relation to health screening. [14877/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.