Specialist care for people suffering from ‘long Covid’ has been called for by Jackie Baillie.
The Dumbarton Constituency MSP says the Scottish Government should provide support for individuals who are suffering from the long term effects of Covid-19.
During health portfolio questions in the Scottish Parliament, Ms Baillie said she spoke on behalf of constituents who were still suffering from the knock-on effects of the virus, many months after they had contracted it.
She said one constituent suffered from debilitating symptoms including fatigue, breathlessness, headaches, sore eyes, blood pooling in her lower extremities and tachycardia.
Individuals have been unable to return to work and find even the most basic of daily tasks extremely tiring.
“The effects of ‘long Covid’ are extensive and each requires a different specialist opinion and course of treatment,” said Ms Baillie.
“If ‘long Covid’ sufferers had to go to a specialist to address each symptom that they had, they would spend their lives traipsing from one clinic to the next.
“It makes complete sense to open Scotland-wide ‘long Covid’ clinics which act as a one-stop-shop for all the effects of long term COVID-19.
“I urge the Scottish Government to act fast and create specialist clinics so that sufferers in my constituency, and across Scotland, receive the care that they desperately need.”
The Scottish Government and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has not yet opened specialist clinics which specifically treat ‘long Covid’.
In response to a letter from Jackie Baillie to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, the health board said GPs could refer patients to specialists of the individual effects but there were no current plans to open a clinic which allows for targeted care to be given to all the symptoms collectively.
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