Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Conway for raising this really important matter which I am responding to on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly. I assure the Senator that services to support those in need of care due to long Covid are being put in place and expanded. Anyone who is concerned about long Covid should engage with their GP in the first instance for advice and referral, where needed.

We know that both Covid and long Covid affect people in a range of different ways with varied symptoms, as Senator Conway has highlighted. As this is still a new disease, information on its features and course is still emerging. The Department of Health and the HSE continue to analyse national and international evidence as it emerges to ensure a comprehensive approach to service development.

The HSE has developed and is implementing an interim model of care to provide long Covid services nationally. This interim model of care builds on existing service provision in addition to establishing new services across a number of healthcare settings. including GP services, community services and acute hospitals, to ensure a comprehensive national service is in place for all those who need to access it. The first priority of the HSE is to ensure there are both long Covid and post-acute Covid clinics operating within each hospital group so that a national service is provided for all who need it.

The Minister for Health is advised by the HSE that the long Covid clinics that have been established as part of the new model of care and are currently operational include those in St. Vincent"s University Hospital, Beaumont Hospital and University Hospital Galway. The post-acute Covid clinics that are operational as part of the new model of care include those at University Hospital Galway and Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown. Both Tallaght University Hospital and St. James's Hospital are operating combined post-acute and long Covid clinics. There is also a tertiary neurocognitive clinic in St. James's Hospital, led by a consultant neurologist with a background in neurocognitive disorders, which is accepting referrals from long Covid clinics around the country. The HSE is working closely with each of the long Covid and post-acute hospital sites to expand the existing clinics to provide a full scope of care. As clinics become fully operational, the HSE will be collating metrics, including waiting lists, numbers of patients treated and numbers of clinics operating. This information will be crucial in ensuring the service meets the needs of patients and it will inform service development.

It is planned that the interim model of care will be expanded to put in place eight post-acute Covid clinics and six long Covid clinics within hospital groups nationwide. Additional aspects of the service are being developed, including supports within the GP and community settings and online supports. The HSE is working with all the sites identified within the model of care to ensure they can become fully operational as soon as possible. As well as these clinics operating within the new model of care, there are clinics operating at HSE sites which were established prior to the model of care being rolled out. It is intended that these clinics would be aligned with the implementation of the model of care.

A sum of €2.2 million has been allocated to the development of long Covid services in 2022 and funding is currently under consideration for next year. The Minister's priority will continue to ensure that all those who are in need of care due to long Covid are able to access a comprehensive national service and get the care they need.