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Media Release

Taskforce welcomes the Inquiry recommendations for long COVID living guidelines

05 May, 2023

The National Clinical Evidence Taskforce welcomes recommendations from the Parliamentary Inquiry into Long COVID and Repeat COVID Infections to “[develop] evidence-based living guidelines for diagnosis and treatment incorporating tiered care including referral pathways, co-designed with patients with lived experience.”

The Inquiry acknowledged that an emerging significant evidence-base will not be easily translated into practice, because “…there is a gap in implementation of knowledge in Australia, with limited funding available to translate scientific findings into the coalface…” and “…it is not possible for a clinician to evaluate this quantity of data alone.”

Co-Chair of the National Clinical Evidence Taskforce Primary and Chronic Care Panel and General Practitioner, Associate Professor Nicole Allard, said: “…as with any chronic disease care, the general practitioner has a critical role in assessing and managing long COVID, and liaising with patients and connecting them with relevant services….There is a huge amount of research underway and much of this will be used in the primary care space where most people are likely to present.”

The National Clinical Evidence Taskforce currently provides living guidelines for COVID, including long COVID (also available in a downloadable format), and is well placed to continue to develop evidence-based living guidelines as recommended by the Inquiry.

Co-Chair of the National Clinical Evidence Taskforce Primary and Chronic Care Panel and General Practitioner, Professor Mark Morgan, said:, “the NCET is the only organisation that has been set up and that is capable of doing this work in Australia …it maintains flowcharts and evidence-based recommendations, with 100 percent consensus of the 35 peak bodies involved in that organisation, including the RACGP…”

The National Clinical Evidence Taskforce has been developing evidence-based living recommendations for the care of people with long COVID since December 2020.

Chair of the National Clinical Evidence Taskforce, Associate Professor Steve McGloughlin, said: “…These guidelines have been developed in collaboration with a Consumer Panel with lived experience. They also benefit from ongoing collaborations with long COVID guideline developers internationally. We are keen to continue this work to provide Australian clinicians with evidence-based living guidelines for long COVID.”

To view the latest guidelines, click here.

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