AQW 2367/22-27


Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford


Tabled Date: 29/06/2022
Answered On Date: 07/07/2022
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister of Health (i) how many patients have completed the condition management programme for long COVID; and (ii) how many of these patients remain on waiting lists for other specialisms to assess their ongoing symptoms.


Answer:
Information on the number of people who have completed the condition management programme for long COVID is not available centrally in the Department.
The following information has been provided by the Health and Social Care (HSC) Trusts.
how many patients have completed the condition management programme for long COVID
The Post Covid Syndrome MDT (PCSS) clinic refers clients to the Condition Management Programme (CMP). They are two separate services.
Belfast HSC Trust advised that they provide a bespoke pulmonary rehabilitation / dysfunctional breathing service for patients with significant respiratory symptoms post-COVID-19. 100 patients were referred to the service, who were assessed at a PCSS clinic.
Northern HSC Trust advised that 25 patients were referred to the condition management programme who were assessed at a PCSS clinic.
South Eastern HSC Trust advised that 329 patients have attended a PCSS clinic, which forms part of their condition management programme.
Southern HSC Trust advised that 5 patients were referred to the condition management programme who were assessed at a PCSS clinic.
Western HSC Trust advised that 24 patients were referred to the condition management programme who were assessed at a PCSS clinic.
how many of these patients remain on waiting lists for other specialisms to assess their ongoing symptoms.
Belfast, Southern and Western HSC Trusts advised that information for this response could only be obtained through a manual trawl through hundreds of files and could therefore only be supplied at disproportionate cost.
Northern and South Eastern HSC Trust advised that 154 and 133, respectively, onward referrals have been made for assessment /intervention in other specialist areas but were unable to provide the waiting list situation for other services.