Image: Shutterstock/Suwit Rattiwan Image: Shutterstock/Suwit Rattiwan CRITICISM HAS BEEN levelled at the new government over the delay in publishing the roadmap for restoring non-Covid healthcare.
Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall asked the new minister why there is still no clarity about when normal services, or something close to normal services, can return. Sinn Féin’s health spokesperson David Cullinane told TheJournal.ie: ”On 23 June the HSE confirmed that it would publish a framework document to guide hospitals and community services in developing local plans for the phased resumption of services. The publication of this needs to be accelerated.”
Health experts have said there is a risk of a jump in secondary deaths if some life-saving services are not reopened. “He said on 11 June that screening was not being restored quickly enough, so I presume he has now put in place plans to accelerate screening. Will he give us some date,” said Kelly. He said: “We will need to be vigilant in implementing the public health surveillance controls to avoid further spikes of Covid infections, while being prepared to deal with any upsurge in healthcare requirements.”“I want to see the roadmap ready and services back up and running for patients as soon as possible. I will be monitoring this very closely.”“The National Screening Service has announced the planned reopening of screening services along a totally different timeline.