MSPs unite to challenge Yousaf over long Covid failures

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton, Scottish Labour health spokesperson Jackie Baillie and Scottish Conservative spokesperson Sandesh Gulhane have joined forces to write to the First Minister and demand action to support the 175,000 Scots with Long Covid.

In the letter they highlight that the Scottish Government has only spent or allocated £6m in Long Covid support, compared to £314m in England and warned that "Many have been forced to fund their own treatment through private clinics or put themselves at risk with unlicensed medications and treatments available abroad".

In June 2022, Humza Yousaf and the three MSPs met with Long Covid kids at the Scottish Parliament. However, Helen Goss, whose daughter Anna is forced to use a wheelchair due to Long Covid has warned that "Over a year later and we still have no paediatric support, diagnostics or treatment for Long Covid in Scotland". 

The letter is as follows.

"Dear First Minister,

"We are writing to you regarding the pressing need for more funding and adequate attention for the development of Long Covid services in Scotland.

"At last count there were 175,000 people in Scotland (including children) suffering with Long Covid, making it the largest mass disabling event since the end of the first world war. They face debilitating symptoms on a daily basis, including cognitive problems, gastrointestinal issues, visual problems, breathing difficulties, crushing fatigue and chest pain.

"Many of them have been suffering since the onset of the pandemic over three years ago and the negative impact of the condition on their lives cannot be understated.

"Despite warm words, our research has shown that the Scottish Government has so far either spent or allocated just £6million of its £10million Long Covid support fund, in comparison to England’s £314million.

"This severe lack of funding is having a significant impact on the ability of local health boards to provide clinicians with the training and updated learning that would allow them to effectively diagnose and treat Long Covid.

"As a result, over three years on from the outset of the pandemic, effective pathways for treatment are yet to be developed or implemented across Scotland. Which means that, all too often, children and adults with Long Covid are going without the help and support they need. Many have been forced to fund their own treatment through private clinics or put themselves at risk with unlicensed medications and treatments available abroad.

"On 28th June 2022, when you were serving as the Cabinet Secretary for Health you met with several children whose lives have been devastated by this cruel condition. In response to a letter you received from one of these children, you wrote: “we take the issues you have written about in your letter very seriously and there are lots of people working hard to try and find out the best way to help”.

"On 23rd March 2023, just a matter of days before you were sworn in as First Minister, you told the Covid-19 Recovery Committee that you would “look to see where we could possibly increase our funding for specifically Long Covid.”

"We are therefore writing to ask (a) how much additional funding you plan to provide for Long Covid services (b) when you plan to make these funds available and (c) how you plan to allocate funds to include proper diagnostics tests, licensed medication and treatments that are currently only available privately.

"Regarding existing Long Covid treatment for adults and children, (a) what progress has been made in following the Long Covid Inquiry’s recommendation that patients have one point of contact for care and supervision and (b) are you satisfied that the actions you have taken, both during your time as Cabinet Secretary for Health and now as First Minister, to fund and develop effective treatment pathways for Long Covid have been satisfactory?

"If so, can you provide evidence that these actions have produced positive outcomes for adults and children with Long Covid?"

Helen Goss said:

“When we, and other families, met Humza Yousaf in June 2022, we were encouraged by his words and seemingly determined commitment to help our children by funding Long Covid services in Scotland.

"Over a year later and we still have no paediatric support, diagnostics or treatment for Long Covid in Scotland. We continue to have to spend thousands of pounds (that we don't have) on private health and social care for our struggling family.

"What are families supposed to do if their child is sick and the NHS remains under-resourced and ill equipped with the correct training to support them? If families cannot afford private healthcare, they are left alone; isolated and forgotten, often with worsening health. This is not good enough. Humza Yousaf is now First Minister and in a strong position to help Scotland's children; will he harness the compassion we believed we saw in June 2022 and step up to help us?”