Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 July 2023
195. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if funding will be put in place for a multidisciplinary team for the only dedicated neurology service for Irish patients with long-Covid in St. James’s Hospital Dublin. [33008/23]
View answerThe Deputy is advised that the Minister has trebled the allocation of funding dedicated to Long COVID service development from 2.2 million in 2022 to 6.6 million in 2023. This funding is to support the implementation of the HSE interim Model of Care for Long COVID, building on existing service provision, in addition to establishing new services across GP, community services and acute hospitals, to ensure a national service is in place for all who need it.
There is a tertiary Neurocognitive Clinic in St James's Hospital, led by a Consultant Neurologist with background in Neurocognitive Disorders, accepting referrals from Long COVID clinics around the country. The HSE has advised that all Post-Acute and Long COVID clinics will be supported by an interdisciplinary team with expertise in the management of Long COVID, including the neurological sequelae. These interdisciplinary teams guide and support patients through all aspects of recovery, regardless of their primary symptoms. It is also important to note that it is standard for individual specialties within hospitals to refer to each other when the need for specific speciality care arises.
