Patients face 'lottery' for support fund: 'I've been left to rot with long Covid'

A long Covid patient said sufferers have been “left to rot” in what is described as a “postcode lottery” for funding.

There are an estimated 170,000 people in Scotland with long Covid.

But only 4,368 patients are confirmed to have benefited from a specially-designated fund of £10m announced by the SNP Government in 2021, according to data revealed by Labour.

At least £6.7m of the fund has been paid out, but the results vary between health boards, with three failing to establish a pathway to refer long Covid patients at all, a freedom of information request shows.

The Scottish Government has pledged additional funding in its Budget for specialist support for people with long Covid, ME, chronic fatigue and similar conditions.

But Scottish Labour claims the Government is yet to pay out the £3m that was initially allocated.

Cass Macdonald, a former nurse based in Edinburgh, must use a wheelchair due to symptoms of long Covid and ME after catching the virus while working in the early days of the pandemic.

“I woke up on the first Friday in April 2020 with symptoms that got worse. I did not know that was the day that completely changed my life,” Cass said.

“My situation is, I can’t cook a meal, it’s very rare I can shower and get dressed.”

Cass has been waiting almost two years for a care assessment.

The only specialist service available was the ME/chronic fatigue service, which provides short-term interventions with physiotherapy and psychology, focusing on pacing and self-management.

“I’ve been told I can’t work again,” Cass told STV News, “I need a wheelchair if I want to leave the house.

“I spend most of my life in a chair because trying to do anything for a few minutes causes me a lot of pain.

“I feel like I’ve been left to rot.

“Covid is not done with us, it’s still putting people in hospital and disabling people.”

Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour’s health spokesperson, said: “Many long Covid patients put their health on the line during the pandemic and yet are now struggling to get basic support.

“In their attempt to understand and tackle their symptoms, many are forced to pay out for private consultations due to the lack of specialist advice available.

“Additional money for long Covid patients is welcome, but this SNP government must explain what happened to the £10m if so little of it appears to be reaching the patients it was intended for.

“Labour will work with the life sciences industry and the NHS to better understand the effects of long Covid while ensuring patients receive quick diagnosis and treatment.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We take long COVID very seriously and recognise the serious impact it has on those affected.

“All NHS boards have well-established referral pathways to a range of services for those with symptoms and the 25-26 Scottish Budget will provide an additional £4.5m in funding for long COVID and similar conditions.

“As NHS Boards have highlighted in their responses, people living with long COVID access a range of healthcare services which it is not possible to capture fully within the data provided.

“It is therefore inaccurate to say that only 4,368 patients have been treated using this funding.”