Long Covid neurology services
Deputy Naughten said long Covid patients faced long waits, that only one neurologist served them nationally, and that the Mater clinic was due to close. The Taoiseach said substantial funding had been allocated, national clinics were being developed, and he would raise the Mater issue with the Minister.
It is taking more than a year for people to access the long Covid clinic at St. Vincent's University Hospital in Dublin. Despite a growing body of research evidence indicating that many patients with long Covid have neurological issues, the HSE has recruited only one neurologist for long Covid patients throughout the country. The only other clinic managing patients with neurological issues, based in the Mater hospital, is set to close at the end of next month due to the HSE's failure to even respond to the business case submitted to it last July. This clinic has already treated some 1,500 people this year. I ask the Taoiseach to intervene to keep this clinic open.
Comment on this
My understanding is that €2.2 million was allocated for the development of long Covid services in 2022. An additional €6.6 million will be invested in 2023. The HSE has an interim model of care to provide long Covid services nationally with the first priority being to ensure that both long Covid and post-acute Covid clinics operate with each hospital group in order that there will be a national service. I am informed that the long Covid clinics that have been established are based in St. Vincent's University Hospital, Tallaght University Hospital, St. James's Hospital, Beaumont Hospital and University Hospital Galway. I will bring the points the Deputy has raised in respect of the two locations he has identified, namely, St. Vincent's and-----