133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
19 August 2022
Scout Barbour-Evans
By email: [FYI request #20000 email]
Ref: H2022008412
Tēnā koe Scout,
Response to your request for official information
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) to Manatū Hauora
(Ministry of Health) on 24 July 2022 for information regarding Long COVID.
I was sorry to read that you are living with Long COVID and I trust you are getting the support
you need. If you need personal health information, you can cal the COVID Healthline on 0800
3585453 at any time or contact your family doctor. Should you experience a medical
emergency, you or anyone assisting in your care should not hesitate to cal 111 and ask for an
ambulance.
Turning to your request, you asked for:
1. Any internal correspondence or documentation discussing matters like;
a. Which government authority/ministry should be in charge of social supports for long
covid sufferers.
b. What proposed social supports there should be for long covid sufferers.
c. What medical supports are proposed for long covid sufferers eg: any standardised
testing, referrals that should be made.
d. What financial cost wil the above medical and social supports entail for not only current
long covid sufferers, but future long covid sufferers too.
e. What recommendations have been made by both medical professionals and other
health professionals about these supports both social and medical.
On 3 August 2022, we contacted you in accordance with section 18B of the Act as your request
asked for a very large volume of information. You refined your request to the following:
Reports, key evidence and documentation regarding:
a. Which government authority/ministry should be in charge of social supports for long
covid sufferers.
b. What proposed social supports there should be for long covid sufferers.
c. What medical supports are proposed for long covid sufferers eg: any standardised
testing, referrals that should be made.
d. What financial cost wil the above medical and social supports entail for not only current
long covid sufferers, but future long covid sufferers too.
e. What recommendations have been made by both medical professionals and other
health professionals about these supports both social and medical.
Seven documents have been identified within the scope of your request. The documents are
itemised in Appendix 1 and have been released to you in full. These cover literature reviews
and research to inform the Manatū Hauora work programme, and a scoping review of current
and emerging best practice for Long COVID rehabilitation.
In addition, there is a range of publicly available information that may be of interest:
• Information on the definition, symptoms, treatment and management of Long COVID can
be found at
: www.health.govt.nz/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-health-advice-
public/about-covid-19/long-covid.
• Information on Manatū Hauora work on Long COVID, including the scope of the work
programme and sector updates can be found at
: www.health.govt.nz/covid-19-novel-
coronavirus/covid-19-health-advice-public/about-covid-19/long-covid#understand.
• Guidance for the Acute Phase of Rehabilitation of People with or Recovering from
COVID-19 in Aotearoa New Zealand can be found at:
www.health.govt.nz/publication/guidance-acute-phase-rehabilitation-people-or-
recovering-covid-19-aotearoa-new-zealand.
Additionally, Manatū Hauora expects to publish rehabilitation and service guidelines for Long
COVID on its website in the next month.
Given the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) is responsible for social supports, you may
wish to contact MSD for additional information at:
[email address]
I trust this information fulfils your request. Under section 28(3) of the Act, you have the right to
ask the Ombudsman to review any decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may
be contacted by email at:
[email address] or by calling 0800 802 602.
Please note that this response, with your personal details removed, may be published on the
Manatū Hauora website at:
www.health.govt.nz/about-ministry/information-releases/responses-
official-information-act-requests.
Nāku noa, nā
Martin Chadwick
Chief Al ied Health Professions Officer
Al ied Health Professions Office
Page 2 of 3
Appendix 1: List of documents for release
#
Date
Document details
Decision on release
1
October 2021
Current and emerging best
Released in full.
practice for Long COVID
rehabilitation in context of a
multidisciplinary team involving
allied, scientific, and technical
professions: a scoping review
2
January 2022
Request for Advice – Long
COVID information for Care in
the Community
3
January 2022
Long COVID Services Report for
Northern Region
4
February 2022
Request for Advice – Long
COVID Evidence Update
5
May 2022
Request for Advice – Long
COVID Evidence Update.
6
July 2022
Request for Advice – Long
COVID Evidence Update.
7
August 2022
Request for Advice – Long
COVID Evidence Update.
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