Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change) | Oireachtas source

I have been contacted by a number of patients who attend St. James's Hospital for long Covid and they advise me that the post of senior occupational therapist, OT, at the hospital's post-Covid clinic is ceasing due to funding issues and that the senior OT will no longer be part of the post-Covid clinic. This has been a really important part of the care for patients. I wrote to the CEO of St. James's, who confirmed that in the past month the hospital has received confirmation of permanent funding resourcing for the post-acute Covid clinic programme and an OT has not been resourced. The hospital awaits confirmation of permanent resourcing for the long Covid clinic, which is expected imminently. The hospital is concerned that an OT is not included in the HSE's draft long Covid model of care, published in June 2021, although that may change in the final version. Will the Tánaiste ensure that OTs are a part of Covid clinics, particularly the one in St. James's Hospital?

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