Pressure mounts on SNP to set up clinics for lasting virus symptoms
PRESSURE is mounting on the Government to develop specialist long Covid clinics after the first official estimates showed up to 104,000 Scots are likely to suffer from the condition.
The full scale of Scotland’s long Covid crisis has been revealed by the Scottish Government.
It estimates up to 1.9 per cent of the population – which amounts to 104,000 people – are likely to be suffering from symptoms 12 weeks or more after they first tested positive.
The first official projection of the scale of the problem has sparked renewed calls for long Covid clinics to be set up to help sufferers. Symptoms of the condition include fatigue, breathing problems, ‘brain fog’, insomnia, depression and joint pain that lingers for weeks or months after the infection has gone.
Sandesh Gulhane, a GP who is also the Scottish Conservative public health spokesman, said: ‘More than 100,000 patients developing long Covid is of huge concern. I am already treating patients who have been fit and healthy, but are now unable to do basic tasks like walking to the toilet.
‘These patients need to see urgent action from SNP ministers now, rather than years down the line when research is carried out. There is no time to wait.
‘Long Covid is the next crisis that has the potential to overwhelm our NHS and GPs like myself.’
The latest ‘modelling the epidemic’ report by the Scottish Government estimates the number of people likely to experience long Covid symptoms for 12 weeks or more after they test positive, and puts this at between 0.7 per cent and 1.9 per cent of the population.
It says: ‘This modelling estimates that, at August 9, 2021, between 39,000 (0.7 per cent of the population) and 104,000 (1.9 per cent) people were projected to experience symptoms for 12 weeks or more after their first suspected Covid infection.
‘These are preliminary results, further data on rates of long Covid and associated syndromes as research emerges are required.’
More than 60 specialist centres have been opened in England and a further 20 are in the pipeline as part of a £34million scheme.
The Scottish Government has not yet committed to setting up such a network of clinics. The Long Covid Scotland campaign group is calling for the clinics to be set up to make it easier for patients to access care.
A previous study by the REACT-2 programme at Imperial College London found that the most common symptoms 12 weeks after a positive test were either tiredness and muscle aches or shortness of breath affecting normal activities, tightness in chest, and chest pain.
Earlier this week, a nurse told how she is still battling serious long Covid health issues eight months after first testing positive for the disease. Heather Campbell, a staff nurse based at the University Hospital Wishaw in Lanarkshire, had her world turned upside down after contracting the illness in November.
The 23-year-old, of Motherwell, Lanarkshire, said: ‘I was unwell at home for around three weeks. My symptoms took a long time to settle.
‘In January I attended A&E with increasing chest pain but all my tests came back normal. I have since been referred for a 24-hour heart monitor, chest X-ray and numerous blood tests, which have come back normal.’
The orthopaedic trauma nurse added: ‘The other symptoms I have to live with daily include a loss of appetite, extreme fatigue, fevers,
‘Unable to do basic tasks like walking’ ‘Increasing chest pain’
muscle and joint aches, palpitations, chest pain, headaches, initial hallucinations, difficulty sleeping, abdominal pains and confusion.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘We recognise the impact long Covid has on physical and mental wellbeing and we are working to ensure people have access to the support they need for assessment, diagnosis, care and rehabilitation.
‘We have already developed an approach and are responding to long Covid by strengthening the existing services offered by our NHS, partnering with the third sector and investing £2.5million in research in order to learn more about the condition.
‘While long Covid clinics are one model NHS Boards may explore, we know no one single approach is likely to fit all areas and circumstances.’