Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 July 2020
1035. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health if universal access to Covid-19 testing will be established to support patients who require a test before attending hospitals for day or other procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18858/20]
View answerFollowing advice issued by National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), and from the end of March, 2020, the HSE took measures to restrict non-essential hospital services to slow the spread of COVID-19.
As part of the easing of restrictions, NPHET has revised its recommendations and the delivery of non-essential health services, including hospital day services, are now starting back gradually. Hospitals have developed new ways of working and, guided by appropriate clinical and operational decision making, the patient's healthcare advice will depend on the type of hospital visit.
The HSE website provides details on services currently available and operational in each hospital. This information is reviewed frequently and provides up-to-date announcements on services available at each site at the following link https://www2.hse.ie/services/hospital-service-disruptions/hospital-service-disruptions-covid19.html.
In relation to testing, the HSE has developed guidance for the management of planned hospital admissions for non-COVID care which sets out advisory testing strategies for hospital patients, available at: www.rcsi.com/dublin/-/media/feature/media/download-document/dublin/covid-19-section/surgical-practice/other-national-clinical-programmes-and-recognised-bodies/ncagl-acute-operations-interim-guidance-on-the-management-of-planned-hospital-admission-for-non.pdf. This guidance seeks to provide an advisory framework for mitigating risks associated with the delivery of non-COVID care while COVID-19 continues to be prevalent, and testing provides one of a number of such mitigation measures. Other efforts that can be taken to reduce risk would include, for example, self-isolation for 2 weeks in advance of admission. These measures are discussed directly with patients who have a planned admission to hospital to ensure an appropriately tailored approach is adopted for each individual patient's circumstances.
