Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Council calls for specialist long Covid clinics support
North Lanarkshire Council is calling for the introduction of specialist long Covid clinics to support those affected by lasting effects of the coronavirus.
A majority of members voted in favour of writing to health secretary Humza Yousaf to ask for the new support for patients, recognising “the devastating impact of Covid-19, both physically and mentally”.
The move follows a motion introduced at the authority’s virtual meeting by Conservative members Trevor Douglas and Bob Burgess, asking for “an immediate introduction of designated long Covid clinics”.
SNP members had instead proposed writing to NHS Lanarkshire to find out more about the supports already in place for patients and those which may be required in future, noting that the health service “is already delivering care tailored to individual needs”.
However, the original Conservative motion went ahead after gaining 37 votes compared to the amendment’s 29.
Airdrie Central representative Councillor Douglas outlined some of the numerous symptoms being associated with post Covid syndrome, including extreme tiredness, shortness of breath, problems with concentration and sleep, joint pain, depression, tinnitus and more.
He said: “Long Covid has affected many people around the country – the Office for National Statistics recently reported 869,000 people still have long Covid symptoms after 12 weeks and 376,000 suffer some of these symptoms 12 months later.
“These are very concerning numbers, and the report also suggests that deprived areas and women are hit the hardest.
“Covid continues to impact every aspect of our NHS and unfortunately it doesn’t look as if it’s going to go away any time soon - we’re possibly looking at it for the next two years minimum.
“We have a massive backlog in our GP surgeries, hospitals and outpatient surgeries and that’s why I’m calling on the health minister to introduce designated long Covid clinics, as this will take a substantial strain off our frontline NHS and ensure that some of those with these terrible symptoms can get the help they require.”
SNP members William Goldie and Fiona Fotheringham proposed that instead of writing to the health secretary, the council liaise with NHS Lanarkshire on what support is support required, noting that health boards are “already delivering care tailored to individual needs”.
They also highlighted that “the Chief Scientist Office has committed £2.5 million to fund nine projects to improve our understanding of the long-term effects of Covid-19 on physical and mental health and help with developing clinical interventions to support recovery and rehabilitation”.
Councillor Goldie called long Covid “a hidden spectre” and said: “It has many facets and may present with vastly different symptoms; listening to these patients is an important part of tackling outcomes.
“Patients can present with urgent requirements requiring assessment by specialists, so rather than consider a long Covid clinic as a panacea we must strive to take a multi-disciplinary approach where the needs of each patient are the number one priority.
“Long Covid is an urgent example of how new service delivery methods must be designed – the correct way forward is to allow the expertise in our NHS to design services for patients rather than us try and impose a system.”
He added: “I agree entirely that long Covid is an issue which will be with us for some considerable time. The NHS across the UK has risen to the twin challenges of managing waves of acute Covid-19 and the vaccination effort, and all healthcare workers and volunteers should be commended for their efforts.”
Party colleague Councillor Fotheringham said: “Patients are referred to specialist rehabilitation services for the specific symptoms they have – clinics would require an interdisciplinary team including physicians, pharmacists, physiotherapists, occupational health, dieticians, psychiatric care and more.
“The Scottish Government is funding a number of research projects to develop understanding of the longer term provision and this will be done as quickly as possible; it’s still recommended people the various clinics because they’ll get the person-centred care they need.
“As Covid has demonstrated, it’s fast evolving; unfortunately long Covid is going to be lingering so services are going to evolve and the Scottish Government is committed to that research.”