To ask the Minister of Health how his Department has reassured cancer patients, concerned about exposure to COVID-19, that they should attend appointments in hospital.

Throughout the pandemic, in response to concerns about the potential for exposure to COVID-19, my Department has tried to reassure cancer patients to attend hospital appointments through the publication of press releases, e-zines and factsheets and through promotions and videos by GPs reaching wide audiences across social media platforms.

Furthermore all Health and Social Care Trusts follow current infection control procedures including appropriate use of personal protective equipment, hand hygiene and environmental cleaning. All patients who require admission to hospital will continue to be screened through the mandatory screening programme of testing before admission.