Martin Whitfield MSP is backing demands from the Long Covid Scotland campaign group for the Scottish Government to finally take the action necessary to meet the needs of those living with the effects of Long Covid.

The group has published a new report, ‘Impact On Our Lives’, drawing on the experiences of people living with Long Covid which highlights the significant flaws in the care and support currently available to the estimated 150,000 people in Scotland who are living with the condition.

It states that one in five sufferers reported that they had paid privately for tests and investigations because of frustration at lack of access and long wait-times through the NHS. Respondents also felt there was a lack of tailored support and that they were being let down and forgotten by the health care service.

The report also makes a series of recommendations to the Scottish Government on what it believes is required to put in place the help they need. This includes establishing patient-informed services across Scotland, including Long Covid specific clinics and services with clear pathways for treatment and support.

Commenting on the report, Martin Whitfield MSP said:

“There can be no doubt that people struggling with Long Covid have been failed by this SNP-Green government. Thousands of my constituents are suffering with chronic illness, but, as this welcome report identifies, many of them feel they have not been able to access the care or support they need.

“The report has to be wake-up call for the Health Secretary to finally recognise the scale of this problem, listen to the recommendations which are being made in the report and act on them to help people with Long Covid.

“The thousands of people living with Long Covid are not just going to go away – they deserve to be supported by this government. Humza Yousaf and the SNP need to sit up and take notice of the people desperately appealing for the support they’ve been unable to find so far.”