Marie Sherlock (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise the issue of the closure of the Mater hospital long Covid clinic that is due to take place this month. The closure of this important clinic will deprive communities of the north inner city and across the north side of Dublin of a vital service for those who are unlucky to develop those enduring symptoms from Covid-19. Those symptoms can be debilitating both physically and mentally. It is important to say that under the stewardship of Professor Jack Lambert and other doctors in the Mater hospital, it was to the fore in treating the first patients of Covid, conducting research in this country on Covid and the issues associated with long Covid and in recognising that long Covid is predominantly a neurorehabilitation issue. It is shocking that the HSE has decided to overlook the hospital in funding the continuation of the long Covid clinic in that hospital.

Serious questions need to be raised about the HSE’s model of care towards long Covid and how that is being deployed across the country. There have been eight post-acute Covid clinics identified across hospitals and six long Covid clinics. Yet, we know from clinicians in the Mater hospital, in particular, that the demand is not for post-acute Covid care in the immediate weeks after suffering Covid, rather, it is for long Covid. Yet, we are seeing significant resources being put into post-acute Covid care, when really they needs to be put into long Covid.

The other thing is with regard to what exactly is being put into long Covid. There is only one consultant neurologist to be recruited and appointed across the six long Covid centres. That raises serious questions about the understanding within the HSE of how, precisely, to treat long Covid. While we understand that cardiac and respiratory symptoms are the main symptoms exhibited by long Covid sufferers, at the heart of this, the underlying cause of it is a neurological issue. Up to 16,000 people in this country are affected by long Covid. Those symptoms can endure for up to two years or more. We need to get that service in proper order in this country. Some people are waiting months for care and yet, in the Mater hospital, people were seen promptly. It is simply appalling that there is now no service for the north side of Dublin, up as far as the boundary with Beaumont. There are serious questions for the Government.

Finally, there is a broader call for neurocognitive or neurorehabilitation care. We see two pilots in place at the moment. We all received the emails about it. We need to see long Covid care included along with acquired brain injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s.It is now urgent that we roll out new rehabilitative centres across the country.