A plan has been agreed between the Department of Health and the HSE to scale-up coronavirus testing capacity here to the goal of 100,000 tests per week, according to HSE CEO Paul Reid.
He has also warned that it's now 'very clear' that COVID-19 will impact the Irish health system for longer than previously expected, and will ‘most likely’ continue into 2021.
Paul Reid says a ‘very different’ approach will now be needed in the system over the coming years - noting that aspects of the Sláintecare reform plan may need to be ‘challenged’ or re-evaluated due to the new situation.
He also confirmed that a plan has been developed to scale-up testing capacity beyond 10,000 tests a day, and that the 'roadmap' will be going to Cabinet in the coming days.
He suggested that tensions between the HSE and Department of Health on that issue have been “constructive”.
Speaking at the HSE’s weekly press briefing about the coronavirus response so far, Mr Reid said modelling here and the experiences from other countries shows that coronavirus will be here for quite some time.
He observed: “The model we have put in place has been a kind of warzone model… but looking forward to the future… we’re going to have to build a new model.
“That will mean a much more integrated lab oversight, and a much more sustainable process around contact tracing.
"We will max out our current model, and scope out a new model for the future.
Mr Reid said a dual strategy will be needed - ensuring the response to COVID-19 can be ‘scaled up or down’ depending on the number of cases, while also making sure the rest of the healthcare system can continue operating amid any surges in coronavirus cases.
He indicated that "levels of bureaucracy" will need to be broken down to ensure staff can remain focused on patients and the public.
Meanwhile, the HSE CEO this morning confirmed they plan to run a pilot test of a new contact tracing app next month, saying they want to prove it is ‘reasonably resilient’ before it is rolled out.
He also confirmed the Executive is ‘likely to double’ the existing €203 million order of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from China.
Latest data
The HSE this morning also provided an update on various aspects of the coronavirus response here.
There have been 190 admissions to the City West self-isolation facility, with 102 of those people discharged.
The HSE chief operation's officer Anne O’Connor said the facility hasn’t reached maximum capacity yet, but is currently "accepting all sorts of people for all sorts of different reasons who require self-isolation”.
As of yesterday, there were 749 patients in Irish hospitals with COVID-19.
123 of those patients were in intensive care, along with 150 people in ICUs for other, non-coronavirus reasons - meaning 139 ICU beds currently remain available if needed.
Meanwhile, 17 private hospitals have signed up to work in public space, providing an additional 2,000 beds if needed.
130 private consultants have signed up work as public consultants, amid objections from some consultants about the contracts being put forward.
