Dr. Siobh?n N? Bhriain:

The Chair has raised many issues. The single most important message we would like to get out as clinicians, as most of us here are, is that most people do recover over time. This is the single most important message. Several experts in long Covid and infectious diseases around the country have advised, including Dr. Bannan, that this is the single most important aspect. A second point is that the small numbers of people with those specific symptoms, such as lung clotting, for example, would need a combination of specialist treatments from a haematology specialist and possibly a lung specialist. We do have experts here who can provide this care. Thankfully, these cases are rare, although we have heard of them, and specialist care is available.

It is important to return to the point regarding long Covid clinics being staffed by infectious diseases consultants. Within hospital settings, if patients need care from another specialist, that is available. These pathways are there. If Dr. Bannan, for example, feels he needs the advice of a cardiologist or respiratory consultant, he will pick up the phone and say he is going to refer a patient. We do, therefore, have these pathways within hospital settings for people with these complex, but rare, complications.