Opposition politicians have called on the Government to restart cancer screening programmes which have been put on hold as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Fianna Fáil's Health Spokesperson Stephen Donnelly told the Dáil today that closing screening services for three months has meant that around 170,000 screenings have not happened. "We all back the screening services, we know early detection saves lives and also unfortunately delayed detection can cost lives." He said many doctors and labs believe the services can open now and he said they were anxious to have a date for reopening.
Deputy Donnelly quoted one GP who said: "We have a tentative date for the opening of hairdressers and pubs but not for cancer screening - it's alarming