Health survey reveals impact of Long Covid on Scots

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP today said the SNP’s response to Long Covid has been ‘almost non-existent’ despite sufferers telling a government health survey about the toll it was taking on their lives.

According to the results of the Scottish Health Survey 2023:

• 8% of adults and 2% of children reported currently having Long Covid.
• This was up from 5% of adults and 1% of children in 2021.
• 1 in 50 adults said that that the condition affects them ‘a lot’, limiting their ability to carry out day-to-day activities.

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 indicates 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:

“Long Covid is alarmingly prevalent across Scotland, but the SNP have provided next to nothing in terms of care and support.

“Those with Long Covid can suffer from any number of debilitating symptoms; it’s a huge drain on their health, makes day-to-day tasks a struggle 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.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats would deliver comprehensive and accessible care to everyone living with the condition. We want to see dedicated Long Covid clinics across the country and Scotland-wide access to physiotherapy and multidisciplinary rehab.”