Humza Yousaf urged to roll out long Covid support service across Scotland

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf has been told to “stop side-stepping” long Covid as opposition MSPs called for a support service to be rolled out to help thousands of Scots.

The Scottish Government has been urged to adopt a digital service offering help which is currently only available to long Covid patients in Edinburgh and Midlothian.

Labour’s Jackie Baillie, Tory Sandesh Gulhane and Alex Cole-Hamilton, of the Liberal Democrats, have said the service offered by the Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS) charity will ensure the 180,000 people with long Covid have access to adequate support.

The charity worked with NHS Lothian and Pogo Digital Healthcare to create a digital platform called My Tailored Talks, which brings primary care and third sector services together for the first time.

It enables GPs to refer patients directly to tailored self-management information and CHSS’s long Covid support services.

The system aims to improve patient care while limiting pressure on GPs, the charity said.

In a letter to Mr Yousaf, the opposition MSPs said: “It is simply not acceptable for so little support to be available, or for it to be so inconsistent across the country.

“We desperately need the Scottish Government to take more action and provide the services that people have been asking for two years.

“We’re calling on the Scottish Government to support Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland to roll out the long Covid pathway across Scotland to make sure everyone with this condition has access to practical and emotional support, no matter where they live.

“The Scottish Government needs to take action to support people with long Covid now.”

The digital service prompts users to answer a questionnaire on their symptoms, and they are offered bespoke content based on their responses.

Patients can then request a call back from the charity’s specialist long Covid helpline and GPs are automatically given the information presented to the service.

Jane-Claire Judson, CHSS chief executive, said: “Long Covid is a major public health issue and the Scottish Government needs to stop side-stepping the problem and face it square on.

“Many people’s lives have been turned upside down, they are struggling to work and live normal lives. People are scared and desperately need help and advice.

“We need to see more innovation and joined up thinking within the NHS – and that’s exactly what our partnership with NHS Lothian and Pogo Digital Healthcare offers.

“It is an easy step to roll out the digital platform across the country and gives every GP the opportunity to reduce the pressures they are experiencing and help their patients with long Covid with a direct referral.”

Heath Secretary Humza Yousaf said the “pilot project is just one example of NHS boards using our £10 million long Covid support funding to help people suffering the long-term effects of infection”.

“This money is also delivering single points of access within NHS boards across Scotland – streamlining support for those with long Covid, targeted to their needs,” he said.