Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 June 2020
388. Deputy Malcolm Noonan asked the Minister for Health if the NPHET will allow the resumption of video fluoroscopy procedures at CHI at Temple Street as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10104/20]
View answerThe National Action Plan for Covid-19, published on 16 March 2020, included a wide range of action areas as part of the response to Covid-19. In regard to acute hospital care, action areas related to maintaining critical and ongoing services for essential patient care, as well as related to maximising patient flow, including restriction of elective and outpatient care. On 27 March, in the context of national data showing increased spread of Covid-19, and of an updated European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control risk assessment, NPHET made a number of recommendations aimed at interrupting transmission of Covid-19, and related steps. These included that non-essential surgery, health procedures and other services should be postponed.
On 5 May, NPHET agreed that this recommendation should be replaced, from now on, in regard to acute care, with a recommendation that delivery of acute care be determined by appropriate clinical and operational decision making.
Accordingly, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly as soon as possible in relation to the service matter raised.
