Call for network of clinics to support Scotland's long covid patients
Newly elected Tory MSP Dr Sandesh Gulhane wants to see clinicians work from the same centre as the likes of physios and pharmacists
Last updated 2nd Jun 2021
Specialist centres for treating long covid should be set up across Scotland.
That's according to MSP Dr Sandesh Gulhane who says family doctors need support dealing with the debilitating condition.
The Scottish Conservative Shadow Minister for Public Health, said: “Long Covid is a nightmare for those afflicted by it. As a frontline NHS doctor, I have seen first-hand how devastating it can be to otherwise fit and healthy people.
“It leaves them gasping for breath. They’re knackered by crippling fatigue. Their joints ache, their heart races, their mind seems foggy.
“They can’t get back to work. They struggle to run around the garden with their children or even make it to the toilet from the fatigue. Some can barely get out of bed for the pain.
“The symptoms can be extremely frightening. My patients have described feeling trapped, unable to move on with their lives.
“The Covid in Scotland Study (CISS) has started work to improve our understanding of the condition and that’s very welcome.
“But we cannot wait for the outcome of that study to start acting. The government has to get to grips with this problem faster. They need to treat this issue with far more urgency.
“The Scottish Conservatives are proposing a network of long Covid community clinics across Scotland, bolstered by a few specialist centres to give these patients hope and to provide consistent and optimised management based on existing models of care.
“People have battled through Covid only to realise that the virus is still affecting them. We need more action from the government to give those people the hope of a Covid-free future.”
What do people with long covid say?
The idea's being welcomed by Evie Connell from Dundee who's battled long covid for more than a year.
The 23-year-old student receives monthly physiotherapy via the NHS but says not everyone has the same support.
"It is totally a postcode lottery on what help you get. I know people that don't get any help and other people who are putting bills for private healthcare but not everyone can afford to do that," she said.
"Physiotherapy for me has been the biggest help through all of this. If we had a network, we'd also understand how many people in Scotland are going through this.
"No one's keeping count of how many in the UK have long covid."
No plans for specialist clinics
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We recognise the impact that long COVID is having on the physical and mental wellbeing of people in Scotland.
“It is important that our approach takes account of the needs of people and communities in Scotland. Our NHS is already delivering care tailored to the individual needs of people experiencing the long-term effects of COVID-19.
“NHS Boards across Scotland are co-ordinating and providing local pathways from primary, community care and third sector services in their areas to ensure a multidisciplinary and person-centred approach to care.
“This is still a relatively new illness and it is important that we continue to improve our understanding of its effects on people, in order to ensure they receive the best possible care and support.
“The Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist Office has committed around £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 wellbeing in Scotland, and help with developing effective clinical interventions to support recovery and rehabilitation.”