Mobile Testing Units called for to tackle delays in Lucan

Dublin Mid West Fine Gael TD Emer Higgins has raised the issue of long delays for covid-19 tests in Lucan with the Minister for Health in the Dáil.

She asked the Minister for Health to explain why people in Lucan must wait “far longer” than people elsewhere in the country for Covid-19 tests.

She raised the example of a constituent who is waiting over 3 days for just an appointment despite his colleague in Tullamore having already received his results.

She further highlighted that this delay is allowing Covid-19 spread in our community and is putting lives at risk.

She called for mobile testing units in Lucan and Clondalkin to bring the waiting times back in line with the rest of the country.

“One of my constituents in Lucan was confirmed as a close contact of a colleague who received a positive Covid test result on Sunday,” Deputy Higgins said.

“Many of his colleagues were deemed close contacts.

“They were contacted on Monday by the contact tracing team who confirmed they were being referred for a Covid test and should receive an appointment within 24 hours.

“When my constituent didn’t receive his appointment on Monday, he called the HSE Live helpline the next day.

“He was advised he should have received the appointment by now.

“He was added to an Escalations list and was informed he would definitely receive an appointment by 8pm that evening.

“No text, no phone call and no appointment.

“He phoned the HSE helpline again this morning and was advised there was no referral on the system, and he would have to be added again.

“Thus, starting the process all over again.

“It’s now 3 days since he was first notified that he was a close contact and was being referred for a test. He still has not received his appointment”

“It’s not fair, it’s not right and it’s not SAFE that when two people are referred at the same time that the person in Tullamore receives their result before the person in Lucan even receives an appointment.

“Delays will have a domino effect in terms of Covid 19 spreading across our capital city.

“We need to get this back under control.

“We’ve seen the system being challenged before.

“We’ve seen a concerted government response to get it back under control and that’s what we need to see again now.

“This virus is so contagious that it’s a major challenge to meet our targets when infection rates escalate.

“But we have met that challenge before, and we need the same level of determined focus to meet this challenge once again.”