Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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792. To ask the Minister for Health the current national policy on long-Covid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33809/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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COVID-19 is a new diseases and information on it, its features, incidence and course are still emerging. The natural history, clinical course and consequences of COVID19 are still not completely understood. It is recognised that most patients with COVID-19 return to baseline after acute infection with SARS-CoV-2, but a proportion report ongoing health issues.

The number of people that are affected with longer term sequelae after acute COVID-19 remains unknown, but published reports indicate that approximately 10– 20% of COVID-19 patients experience lingering symptoms for weeks to months following acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients with persistent symptoms following COVID-19 infection may be followed up by their GP or in hospital settings as clinically appropriate. 

My Department and the HSE, continue to review new evidence, research and data on all aspects of COVID19 including Long COVID, as it emerges to ensure care is in place for all who need it.

The HSE has developed and is implementing an interim Model of Care to provide Long COVID services nationally. This builds on existing service provision to further develop the necessary services across a number of health care settings including GP, community services and acute hospitals. The first priority is to ensure there are Long COVID and Post-Acute COVID clinics operating within each Hospital Group to ensure a national service. This involves expanding the resources at existing clinics where required and development of new clinics in line with the Model of Care. 

A HSE National Implementation Team has been established to lead the implementation of the Model of Care and clinical leads representing the areas of respiratory medicine, infectious diseases, neurology, mental health, allied health professionals, community services and general practice have been appointed. In some incidences, clinics have been established on an interim basis within existing resources until staffing provided through the model of care becomes available. The objective is to provide a full national service to ensure those who need care have access to it. 

Anyone concerned about Long COVID is advised to engage with their GP in the first instance.