Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 3 December 2021
167. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Health the details of the work taking place to increase the capacity of the PCR testing system, including increased testers and enhanced laboratory resources to ensure readily available PCR test appointments and fast results; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59205/21]
View answerTesting and contact-tracing continues to be a key component of the Government’s response to the pandemic.
Demand for testing at this time is very high, with almost 220,000 tests conducted in the last seven days. This demand on the testing and tracing system is due to the high level of infection currently being experienced in the community.
The HSE is making every effort necessary to address the very significant demand arising for PCR testing. This includes making arrangements with private providers to add new capacity, extending the opening hours of swabbing centres and ongoing recruitment and redeployment to swabbing teams, and doubling the number of National Ambulance Service mobile teams.
The HSE operates testing centres at locations around the country, details of which are available on the HSE website at hse.ie. The HSE also continues to monitor the need for testing centres and the most appropriate locations at any given time. Individuals who have a medical condition that prevents them from getting to a test centre can be referred by a GP for a home test.
These measures have increased the base community PCR capacity from 15,000 to 25,000 tests per day. Including acute hospital capacity, the HSE is now able to deliver 29,500 tests a day.
People using the self-referral online portal to book a test may find, at times, that no appointments are available. Appointments become available at various times during the day so people should try again later. If anybody with symptoms has concerns about booking a test, they should contact their GP.
As a result of this very high demand, the HSE is prioritising those who are clinically referred and symptomatic close contacts.
It is important to reiterate the public health advice that anybody waiting for a test who has symptoms of Covid-19, should continue to self-isolate until they are at least 48 hours’ symptom free. This should minimize any impact where a person may have to wait a number of days for a test.
The role of testing and contact tracing, as part of the wider public health response, has been under ongoing review throughout the pandemic and will continue to be reviewed and amended in line with the epidemiological profile of the disease, its impact on healthcare utilisation and outcomes, the vaccination status of the population and ECDC guidance.
