Covid-19 Pandemic

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 September 2022

Thursday, 29 September 2022

Questions (239, 240, 241)

Bríd Smith

Question:

239. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the lack of specialist, multidisciplinary treatment and care for children with long-Covid; the reason there are currently no long-Covid clinics for children in Ireland, given those affected are being treated by general paediatricians and general practitioners without the necessary level of expertise to manage this debilitating illness; if there are plans to assemble multidisciplinary teams, including physicians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, dieticians et cetera within dedicated long-Covid clinics; if so, when these will be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47666/22]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

240. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the reason there is no multidisciplinary team, including paediatricians' expertise in post-viral illnesses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists and dietitians, in any of the children's hospitals to deal with long-Covid among children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47673/22]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

241. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the number of children being treated in the children's hospitals as inpatients or outpatients with symptoms of long-Covid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47674/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 239 to 241, inclusive, together.

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply to the Deputy directly

Question No. 240 answered with Question No. 239.

Question No. 241 answered with Question No. 239.