Alan Kelly
Question:36. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if he is considering introducing a self-referral system for Covid-19 testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23654/20]
View answerTuesday, 15 September 2020
Questions (36)
Oral answers (7 contributions)
Given all of the issues we now know about in regard to testing, I am very supportive of the HSE and its endeavours to sort out this issue but it needs support from Government. The deployment of occupational therapists and physiotherapists to testing has to stop. Is there a plan potentially or will we have to move some form of limited self-referral for testing?
I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. A robust testing referral pathway for GPs was put in place in the early days of the pandemic and it has proved a vital component of our overall testing pathway. Enhancements to the referral process have been made throughout the pandemic, including the extension to out-of-hours GP services and new IT systems were developed or modified. The GP community has been a key partner in our efforts to quickly identify and test suspect cases of Covid-19 and I would like to acknowledge the vital role it continues to play in the management of this disease.
The HSE is finalising a future service model for testing and tracing. This service model will aim to deliver a patient-centred, accessible, consistent and flexible service, and will take into account the evolving needs and future potential service demands in the context of Covid-19 surges in disease transmission. The process to develop this future service model is examining all aspects of the testing pathway.
As part of this process, the HSE is examining approaches adopted internationally and is considering a variety of options that can best deliver on the above aims of increasing accessibility, consistency and flexibility. As part of this work, I understand that the HSE is considering the merits of complementary referral pathways to those already in place in general practice and out-of-hours services to provide additional capacity within referral services. It is important to stress that these pathways would be additional to what is already in place and would not replace in any way the important service currently provided by general practice.
I understand that significant work has already been undertaken on the design of the future service model and engagement with key stakeholders is ongoing. It will be important that any complementary pathways are fully considered, including in relation to appropriate clinical governance arrangements. The Minister hopes to receive a final proposal from the HSE over the coming weeks.
I thank the Minister of State for the information. I really appreciate it. The issue is that general practitioners are inundated and we all know it. Increasingly, they are being swamped. For one particular general practitioner in Cork, the number of people presenting has been impossible to deal with. What does the Government propose to do to free up or create a more streamlined process in order that general practitioners during a bad winter or whatever lies ahead - it is going to be bad one way or the other but hopefully not too bad - can do their normal work and not be totally taken up with Covid? We have to look to alternatives. The report mentioned will be welcome. General practitioners also will be administering the influenza vaccination. They will be inundated in terms of that service, although I welcome that.
We have to look to alternatives. The device I am holding up is a Covid test. It takes ten minutes but it is not 100% accurate. I am no expert but I am told it is between 90% and 95% accurate. The test took ten minutes. How is it proposed to do population testing? Is it proposed to roll out all other forms of technologies as well, obviously regulated and so on?
I agree with what Deputy Alan Kelly said. If the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, was here I am sure he too would agree with him. We have to consider the advantages and disadvantages of a self-referral or alternative referral system. A self-referral system has the potential to broaden access to testing, thereby providing greater out-of-hours access and would likely reduce turnaround times. It could also provide additional capacity as general practitioner surgeries move into the winter. It is important to remember that the referral system became overwhelmed in the early days of the pandemic and it is currently experiencing significant pressures.
I have researched the device the Deputy held up. I note it has been introduced in the UK. I understand it is 99.8% accurate, if one were to believe the data. It is the model we need to be moving to. It is worthy of consideration. The costing is as outlined by the Minister of State, Deputy Butler. When the Minister returns, the Deputy and he should have a conversation around the issue.
Interestingly, I offered to speak to the Minister about it but I have not heard back from him since. It is an open invitation. I have no problem referring people who provide it. There are a number of variations of the device. As a country, we need to consider it. If it is good enough for other jurisdictions, we should look at it as well, particularly as winter approaches. I am not saying it is fool-safe or perfect but it is a contribution, particularly in terms of airport testing. We will have to review airport testing as well.
The big issue is the resourcing of our medical scientists. We need to ensure that we have enough of them and to do whatever we can to push more of them into this area. We also need to ensure there is adequate laboratory space to enable us to do what we need to do. We need to prioritise those who need testing, be that through self-referral or a more streamlined referral system and tally that with this type of population general testing around the country, particularly at airports, and then we will have a more robust regime. I would 100% support a proposal in that next over the next few weeks or months.
Questions Nos. 37 and 38 replied to with Written Answers.
May I deal with Question No. 39 on behalf of Deputy Funchion?
Is that agreed? Agreed.