Written answer
Legislative Measures
The Minister said there were no evidence-based treatments for Long Covid, but €8.8 million in recurring funding supports six post-acute Covid and six specialist Long Covid clinics nationwide. The HSE’s interim model of care is under review, informed by HIQA research and a survey of patients’ long-term symptoms; no amendment to the Health Act was announced.
3516. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if she will amend the Health Act 1970 to ensure that related supports are made available to those with long-Covid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60396/26]
Comment on this
Long Covid includes a wide range of persistent or new symptoms that develop after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Estimates of the proportion of people who go on to experience Long Covid type symptoms vary considerably in international literature, at present there are no evidence-based treatment options, which results in clinicians using a symptom management approach and referrals to appropriate specialists.
€8.8 million in funding was allocated for Long COVID in 2024 (recurring).
The National Clinical Programme for Infectious Diseases was established in 2020. The work of the programme includes a review of the interim Model of Care for Long Covid, developed by the Health Service Executive (HSE) Interim Long COVID Model of Care https://www.lenus.ie/server/api/core/bitstreams/4eaac7f6-654e-41cd-ad42-2cff4ef64e8a/content. This model of care recommended the establishment of post-acute Covid clinics and Long Covid clinics. These Clinics are staffed by consultants in the areas of infectious disease, respiratory medicine, psychiatry, neurology, as well as allied health professionals and clinical psychologists. There are six Post-Acute clinics nationally, these are in Cork University Hospital, Galway University Hospital, St. James’s Hospital, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, University of Limerick and Tallaght University Hospital. It is worth noting that for many the referrals to the Post-Acute COVID Clinics, symptoms originally attributed to COVID are, in fact, explained by other specific Respiratory diagnoses. The most common diagnoses are Asthma and Obstructive Sleep Apnoea.
Six Long COVID clinics are operational and receiving patients, with each clinic supported by an interdisciplinary team with expertise in the management of Long COVID. Long COVID clinics are established in Beaumont University Hospital, St James’s University Hospital, St Vincent’s University Hospital, Cork University Hospital, University Hospital Limerick and Galway University Hospital.
The Health Information & Quality Authority (HIQA) published an international review of clinical guidelines and models of care for Long Covid https://www.hiqa.ie/reports-and-publications/health-technology-assessment/international-review-clinical-guidelines-and (International review of clinical guidelines and models of care for long COVID | HIQA. Additionally, the HIQA published a systematic review of interventions to improve Long Covid symptoms (Interventions to improve Long COVID symptoms: A systematic review)https://www.hiqa.ie/sites/default/files/2023-11/Review-of-Long-COVID-nterventions.pdf. A “Follow-up After Disease Acquisition” (FADA) Survey was completed to better understand how people are recovering from prolonged symptoms of COVID-19. The purpose of the survey was to:
• Estimate the prevalence of self-reported Long COVID,
• Estimate the severity and nature of symptoms among those identified as having Long COVID and its impact, and
• Inform the planning of the HSE Long-COVID Model of Care programme.
HSE publishes findings of survey examining the long-term impact of acute COVID 19 disease
https://about.hse.ie/news/hse-publishes-findings-of-survey-examining-the-long-term-impact-of-acute-covid-19-disease/
The results of these reviews and survey will be incorporated into an ongoing review of the interim Long Covid Model of Care.