- Potential 1 million delayed diagnoses -
- HSE and DoH must seek extra diagnostic capacity in public and private systems -
Fianna Fáil MEP Billy Kelleher has echoed concerns raised by the EU Health Commissioner, Stella Kyriakides about potentially one million delayed cancer diagnoses across the EU due to the Covid 19 pandemic.
Kelleher, a member of the Parliament’s Public Health Committee and a former Health Spokesperson for his party was commenting after a wide-ranging debate in the parliament yesterday on the Beating Cancer Strategy.
“The Commissioner informed us that due to Covid 19 over 100 million delayed cancer screenings, and up to 100,000 delayed cancer diagnoses, may have occurred. This is a major issue and one that requires a national intervention in every member state.
“While we all know the partial shutting down of elective procedures, including diagnostics, was necessary to protect our health system, the impact in Ireland will be profound with potentially tens of thousands of delayed cancer diagnoses in the country.
“I know the government is fully aware of this issue but I think we need a specific response from the HSE and the Department to ensure that any backlogs of people waiting for important diagnostic procedures such as X-Rays, CT scans or MRIs are dealt with as quickly as possible.
“If there is spare capacity in the private network of hospitals, the Department should investigate whether this can be utilised over the next number of weeks and months. Thought should also be given to expanding access to diagnostic services in our public system into the evening and at weekends.
“While this will require working with staff and unions to agree protocols and procedures, it is very much worth it, and I believe it should happen as soon as possible,” concluded Kelleher.
