Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2020
1288. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if the Covid-19 response team has been assembled; the make-up of the team by profession; if the team is active; if it has been called into use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32937/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraResidents of nursing homes are vulnerable because of their age, underlying medical conditions, the extent of their requirement for direct care involving close physical contact and the nature of living in congregated settings. Nursing homes have been particularly impacted by COVID-19 both in Ireland and internationally.
The central focus of the response to COVID-19 has been to control the spread of the virus in so far as possible to protect those who are most vulnerable from infection, as well as protecting against causes, situations, circumstances, and behaviours that may lead to the spread of COVID-19.
Sustained communication and interagency cooperation also remain central to the response to COVID-19. The State’s responsibility to respond to the public health emergency created the need for the HSE to set up a structured nursing home support system in line with NPHET recommendations.
This package of supports has been a critical intervention in supporting the resilience of the sector in meeting the unprecedented challenges associated with COVID-19. Guidance, PPE, staffing, serial testing, infection prevention and control training, accommodation and financial support have been provided to the nursing home sector, both public and private. In addition, multi-disciplinary clinical supports are in place at CHO level through 23 COVID-19 Response Teams, which were established earlier this year as well as outbreak control teams responding to outbreaks. I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy in relation to operational matters of the COVID-19 Response Teams.
