Long Covid clinics across Australia are being inundated with requests for assessments from patients struggling with ongoing symptoms, an inquiry has heard.
Doctors told the federal parliamentary inquiry into long and repeated coronavirus infections that they were struggling to keep up with demand as waitlists increased.
At least 10 million Australians have been infected with Covid and it is estimated 3-5% will develop Long Covid at some point.
“Our waitlist is increasing because what we’ve observed is that it can take some time for the recognition of post-Covid conditions, particularly with the fatigue-predominant types, to reach us,” Royal Children’s hospital Associate Prof Shidan Tosif told the inquiry on Wednesday.
Patients are usually referred to specialist clinics through a GP and while there is no official cure, symptoms can sometimes be treated on a case-by-case basis.
The inquiry by the House of Representatives health committee is investigating the economic, social, educational and health impacts of long Covid and repeat infections.
Source: The Guardian, 12 October 2022
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