Covid-19 Pandemic
Seanad Éireann — 2022-09-15
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Hildegarde Naughton (FG), Galway West

Again, I thank Senator Conway for raising this very important matter. We all know that long Covid can be a very disruptive and challenging illness. The most common symptoms, as the Senator outlined, are fatigue, weakness, breathlessness, anxiety, difficulties with memory and concentration and musculoskeletal pain.
However, more than 50 different signs and symptoms have been identified. I understand that these symptoms can be unpredictable in nature and can fluctuate over time, which can make it challenging for patients and healthcare professionals to understand and manage them.
To ensure patients’ needs are met, a service is being put in place to serve them. We will need to remain agile and responsive, based on learnings from the clinics, from new and emerging evidence and the current and future demand for the service. As part of this learning and evidence-based approach, I am advised that the HSE has recently commissioned HIQA to conduct a review of clinical guidelines and of models of care for long Covid. This work is under way and will further inform the development of the service. Further service development will happen this year, including further recruitment to ensure all designated clinics within the model of care are fully staffed. Recruitment to date includes a programme manager and clinical leads representing the fields of respiratory medicine, infectious diseases, neurology, mental health and allied health, and appointments have also been made in community services and general practice. I want to reaffirm the Government’s commitment to ensuring that-----

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Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:51:01+00:00
Sitting date: 2022-09-15