Cole-Hamilton: Supporting 168,000 Long Covid sufferers is vital economic investment

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today attacked the SNP's limp and lacklustre" response to Long Covid as a new report revealed that 168,000 people in Scotland have reported that they are living with the condition.

The latest estimates of Long Covid Prevalence published by the Scottish Government found that 168,000 people in Scotland had self-reported Long Covid in March 2024.

Of that number, 136,000 people (80.6%) reported that their Long Covid symptoms adversely affected their ability to undertake day-to-day activities. This includes 46,000 people (27.5%) reporting that their ability to undertake day-to-day activities had been “limited a lot.”

Earlier this year, Cambridge Econometrics published a report, The Economic Impact of Long Covid in the UK, which estimated that Long Covid “may have macroeconomic costs of some £1.5bn of GDP each year.” The report also indicated that, “lower employment of around 138,000 by 2030 follows as a consequence.”

Adjusted for Scotland’s share of the UK population, this suggested a yearly economic impact of £120m and 11,000 jobs by 2030.

Mr Cole-Hamilton said:

“So many lives have been turned upside down by Long Covid, but the SNP have managed only a limp and lacklustre level of care.

“Those with Long Covid can suffer from any number of debilitating symptoms; it's a huge drain on their health and stops them from getting on in life.

“If even a fraction of those who are out of work or working reduced hours because of Long Covid could be helped into recovery, it would be an investment in support that would pay for itself several times over.

“That's why my party would deliver comprehensive and accessible care to all those living with the condition. We want to see dedicated Long Covid clinics across the country and Scotland-wide access to physiotherapy and multidisciplinary rehab.”