Cancelling elective surgeries may lead to missed care in patients, so says Waterford TD and Sinn Féin Spokesperson for Health, David Cullinane.
Speaking on WLR, Deputy Cullinane said people are being asked to keep emergency departments free in the current crisis, but there is a risk of missed care.
'People don't know how sick they are," he said. "The reason why you go to a doctor or an emergency department is because you suspect something is wrong.
We know during Covid that people who should have been seen quicker weren't. People didn't present to emergency departments. Missed care was stored up."
Addressing the scenario of patients diagnosing themselves, he said that people are being asked to see their GP or a primary care centre. However, many out-of-hours services are collapsing under the strain.
He said, "This is very good advice on one level, but you're asking someone to diagnose themselves and triage themselves."
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