Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 June 2026
494. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to examine documents (details supplied) in relation to children who are suffering with long-Covid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48598/26]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for the question he has raised.
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 (www.lenus.ie/server/api/core/bitstreams/4eaac7f6-654e-41cd-ad42-2cff4ef64e8a/content) . This model of care recommended the establishment of eight post-acute Covid clinics and six 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.
The Health Information & Quality Authority (HIQA) published an international review of clinical guidelines and models of care for Long Covid (International review of clinical guidelines and models of care for long COVID | HIQA (www.hiqa.ie/reports-and-publications/health-technology-assessment/international-review-clinical-guidelines-and) . Additionally, the HIQA published a systematic review of interventions to improve Long Covid symptoms (Interventions to improve Long COVID symptoms: A systematic review - 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 (www.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.
