AQO 1928/17-22

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 15/04/2021
Answered On Date: 26/04/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health for an update on the development and commissioning of services for the diagnosis, assessment and treatment of long COVID.

Answer:

Since the publication by the National Institute for Care and Health Excellence (NICE) of a rapid guideline on the condition in December 2020, the Health and Social Care Board have been tasked with developing costed proposals for the assessment and treatment of people who continue to experience long-term health effects as a result of Covid-19 infection.

In developing the proposals, HSCB is engaging with the primary and secondary care sectors as well as other stakeholder groups. In addition, it is reviewing the different approaches being taken in England, Scotland and Wales to ensure that we have the right service offering to meet the needs of people in Northern Ireland.

Once a service model has been identified, work will be undertaken to rapidly develop the appropriate services.