A 2023 federal inquiry recommended increased funding for dedicated long COVID clinics, but currently most support is provided through GPs with referrals to specialists if necessary.

The closure of the clinic aligns with current clinical practices that manage post-COVID symptoms within established specialist services across NSW, reflecting growing knowledge and experience.

Some patients, including those on waiting lists, reported being unable to access help after the clinic's closure was announced, raising concerns about ongoing support.

Patients currently under the care of St Vincent’s Clinic will continue to receive treatment within existing clinical frameworks, with ongoing contact from hospital teams.

Long COVID is defined by the WHO as symptoms lasting at least two months, starting three months after infection, with around 4.7% of Australian adults affected, equating to roughly 500,000 people.

Sydney’s first public long COVID clinic at St Vincent’s Hospital, which has been operating for three and a half years, is closing at the end of September, with services transitioning into existing respiratory and rehabilitation programs.

The first long COVID clinic in NSW, established in March 2022 under Steven Faux and Anthony Byrne, has treated over 1,000 patients and has been fully booked, with increasing referrals.

Health authorities justify the clinic's closure as part of a shift to integrated specialist care, citing improved understanding of long COVID.

Patients and advocates, including Charlotte Sangster, have expressed feelings of devastation and abandonment, warning that the clinic's closure could hinder access to specialized care and cause unnecessary suffering.

Most long COVID patients in NSW will be supported primarily by their general practitioners, with some able to access specialist services such as cardiology and respiratory care, supported by a virtual telehealth program at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.