Sufferers of long Covid ‘abandoned’

The Scottish Government was yesterday said to have “abandoned” long Covid sufferers by failing to set up specialist clinics to treat the condition.

An MSP wrote to the government to ask when patients will be able to access treatment, in a similar way to the services offered down south.

NHS England has provided £10 million to fund a network of clinics for those suffering from the long-term symptoms of coronavirus.

In her reply to Alexander Burnett, Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said there is already a “range of services” in place to support people experiencing symptoms of long Covid, which at present is using “the knowledge and expertise already within our NHS”.

Mr Burnett, Scottish Conservative MSP for Aberdeenshire West, said: “I’m angered by the reply from the SNP government, who have shown complete negligence towards the issue of long Covid and the people who are suffering from it.

“Thousands are battling the condition each day yet their health and wellbeing is being abandoned by the Scottish Government.

“In England, long Covid sufferers have access to professional help and diagnostic tools through a range of clinics across the country so there is absolutely no reason why Scotland and the northeast can’t have the same.

“Many long Covid sufferers may not even know they have it or, if they do, don’t actually fully know what is wrong with them.

“By not having clinics, the SNP government are putting lives in danger, which is an absolute disgrace.”

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon previously said that while she has not ruled out creating specialist long Covid clinics in Scotland, there is “not sufficient understanding” of the condition to know what specialisms are needed to properly treat sufferers.

The Scottish Government has funded a number of research projects into the characteristics of long Covid and some of the conditions that sufferers go on to experience.

Earlier this month a man still suffering the effects of coronavirus almost a year since contracting the virus said people with long Covid in Scotland are being “robbed” of the opportunity to better understand their condition.

Callum O’dwyer, 29, from Aberdeen, said the Scottish Government’s response “falls well short of what long Covid patients in Scotland would deserve”.

In response to Mr Burnett, the health secretary said there is already a “range of services in place to support people experiencing symptoms of long Covid, including local primary care teams, community-based rehabilitation services and specialised secondary care where needed”.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Our approach is for people to have access to the support they need for assessment, diagnosis, care and rehabilitation in a setting that is as close to their home as possible.

“This is being supported by a range of NHS services including GPS, wider primary care teams and community-based rehabilitation services to support people’s recovery through services such as occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language therapy.

“Specialist investigation and advice is being provided in acute hospital settings for those experiencing more severe effects.”

CARE PLEA: Aberdeenshire West MSP Alexander Burnett said the Scottish Government could be doing much more.