Legislative Council, Thursday 24 March 2022

Ms FORREST question to LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Mrs HISCUTT

With regard to ongoing medical care and support for Tasmanians experiencing ongoing symptoms following a COVID-19 infection, suffering a condition known as ‘long COVID’:

1. Are there specific multidisciplinary health services available to assist patients with ongoing symptoms including fatigue;

a. If so,
i. where are these services located;

ii. How are they accessed; and
b. If not,
i. What services, including multidisciplinary services, can those impacted access locally to support them; and

2. Is there specific financial support available to assist Tasmanians experiencing ongoing symptoms following a COVID-19 infection, including fatigue that are unable to return to work?
Answered by: Hon Leonie Hiscutt, MLC
Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council

Answers:
1.
• Long COVID is not yet fully understood, and symptoms are highly variable and wide-ranging. Given this variability, clinical needs are best assessed by a General practitioner and follow up referrals made for areas of concern.
• Symptoms can range from mild to disabling cognitive and physical symptoms with significant impacts on quality of life, even for patients whose acute source of illness was mild.
• It is not yet known how long symptoms of Long COVID will last, and there is no specific treatment for this condition.
• The Department of Health continues to monitor evidence from across Australia and internationally.

a.
• Tasmanians with Long COVID are primarily managed by their GP who will assess care needs of the individual and make referrals to other specialist allied health therapy services when appropriate.
• Patients with Long COVID may access private or public allied health therapies or other ongoing specialist services depending on their clinical needs.
• Primary Health Tasmania has developed a Post COVID-19 Condition Health Pathway to guide clinicians in assessing and managing patients with Long COVID. This is available for General practitioners and other Health Professionals via the Primary Health Tas website https://www.primaryhealthtas.com.au/for-health-professionals/tasmanian-healthpathways/.
• Ensuring care is supported in a primary care setting, where appropriate, will help reduce avoidable Emergency Department presentations and hospital admissions.

b.
• Like other chronic diseases, if people with Long COVID meet eligibility for a GP management plan and team care arrangement, support can be provided via Medicare for multidisciplinary services.
2.
• As with any post-viral syndrome where people are unable to return to work, people with Long COVID would be able to access sick leave in the workplace if employed, and negotiate a return-to-work plan.