A temporary PCR testing facility is currently in place in Youghal, County Cork as part of efforts from the HSE to alleviate a large number of Covid related referrals from both West Waterford and East Cork GPs.
Earlier this week, seven doctors from the West Waterford area wrote to the HSE calling for the immediate re-opening of the PCR testing facility in Dungarvan to help ease some of the pressure experienced from the unprecedented surge of suspected Covid-19 cases.
Local Labour Party Councillor John Pratt lobbied on behalf of the doctors in question, and said that any effort that could be made to relieve some of the pressures upon the system would be ‘most welcome’.
Rural GPs across Waterford have reported unprecedented demand on their services, with many waiting up to 4 days before they could secure a PCR test appointment for patients who had returned positive antigen tests.
Earlier this week, Cllr. Pratt told WLR that an additional Covid PCR testing facility was set to be opened in Youghal, Cork to help with GP backlogs in West Waterford and East Cork.
He said that the facility would initially deal with GP referrals for PCR testing but will return back to self referral once the backlog has cleared.
A statement from Cork / Kerry Community Healthcare to WLR has confirmed this will be in place.
“The temporary test centre at Youghal was predominantly set up to assist with the excess demand for testing. The priority at the centre is to alleviate the large number of referrals received from GPs. This centre will continue to offer some self-referral appointments.”
It remains to be seen if the test centre facility in Dungarvan will come on stream again.
A pop-up PCR testing centre was provided in the town following the emergence of a Covid-19 cluster locally in June.
