Long Covid may have reduced Scotland’s GDP by £120m and cost 11,000 jobs

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has today called on the Scottish Government to develop a long-term plan for tackling Long Covid after a new economic report indicated that the condition may have reduced Scotland’s GDP by a massive £120m.

A new report The Economic Impact of Long Covid in the UK by Cambridge Econometrics estimates that across the UK, Long Covid “may have macroeconomic costs of some £1.5bn of GDP each year, with the impacts increasing if future prevalence were to rise. The main driver of this result is the way in which Long Covid reduces people’s ability to work, leading to lower household incomes and lower economic growth overall. Lower employment of around 138,000 by 2030 follows as a consequence.”

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

Despite announcing a £10m Long Covid support fund, the Scottish Government spent less than £670,000 on supporting Long Covid patients in financial year 2022/23.

In a letter to the Convener of the Covid-19 Recovery Committee dated March 2023, Humza Yousaf tried to explain the reasons for this underspend, citing “delays in recruiting to posts identified to implement the pathways of care for long Covid.”

However, several NHS boards warned the Scottish Government at least a year before that letter was sent, in their funding applications from March 2022, that the non-recurring nature of the funding would result in the creation of temporary posts, which could pose problems with recruitment.

Mr Cole-Hamilton said:

“Far too many Scots know, first-hand, the devastating reality of living with Long Covid. Breathing difficulties, cognitive problems and crushing fatigue are just some of the many symptoms they face on a daily basis. Previously healthy young people are now forced to use wheelchairs and many have been unable to return to work.

“Despite repeatedly promising to help, Humza Yousaf has failed to properly invest in adequate treatment pathways for sufferers. We’re now seeing the economic impact of the Government’s inaction. What these figures show is that investing in support for those with Long Covid would also be good for our economy too.

“If even a fraction of those who are out of work or working reduced hours as a result of this condition could be helped into recovery, this investment would pay for it itself several times over.

“The Scottish Government were warned that it they didn’t commit to supporting health boards in the long term, then boards would find it challenging to fill temporary posts.

“This lacklustre approach is an insult to all those ordinary Scots, many of whom have been suffering for almost four years now.

“The Scottish Government must urgently change tack and work with health boards to ensure funding can be put to use to help all those in need.”