The Scottish government is to extend funding for a series to support projects aimed at helping people struggling with long COVID – including the development of a new NHS inform website for long COVID.

As part of its £10m long COVID support fund, the government says it is making £3m available across 2023/24 for boards to increase the capacity of existing services and create more clearly defined local pathways.

Earlier this year, Holyrood’s COVID-19 Recovery Committee launched a long COVID inquiry to hear about the experiences and needs of people living with the condition.

Now, ministers say they want to see health boards deliver a more coordinated experience for patients.

The funding has been allocated across Scotland’s 14 territorial boards, NHS National Services Scotland and the NHS inform site with £65,592 designated for reserve funds.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s long COVID service will be supported by £595,000 as one of a number of projects to see funding this year.

One of the users of that service, Caitlin Hamlett, says it has already supported both her physical health and mental wellbeing:

“I can’t thank the team at the long COVID Service enough for the help and support they have provided through the duration of my time using the service.  

“Living with the symptoms of long COVID can be extremely difficult and exhausting. The service has provided a lifeline in my rehabilitation both physically and mentally. The compassion and knowledge of the staff has given me a clear direction for managing my symptoms on the path to recovery, and I am extremely grateful for the help I have received.

“I would urge anyone who is living with long COVID to reach out to their GP who can refer you to the service, where you will be able to connect with others in a similar position to you.”

Expanding and creating services

The Glasgow service brings together a team of advanced practitioner occupational therapists, physiotherapists and health care support workers to advise on managing and improving symptoms of long COVID.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s Director of Allied Health Professions, Fiona Smith, said:

“We are committed to providing the best possible patient care and the long COVID service is a huge step in supporting people who are impacted by the longer lasting effects of COVID-19.

"Living with long COVID can be extremely challenging and the service aims to provide support for patients and their families to ensure they have access to the best resources to improve the quality of their lives.

“I would like to thank all the staff at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and the individual Health and Care Social Partnerships for their help and assistance in the development of the service.”

Since opening three months ago, the service has had more than 340 referrals of people with the condition, with people offered appointments via video, telephone, in-person at a clinic or at home.

Now, an expansion is planned – looking to see children and young people by including a paediatric occupational therapist on the team.

Other Scottish government long COVID support fund projects for 2023/24 include NHS Lanarkshire’s rehabilitation pathway for long COVID which is receiving £320,000 from the fund.

This pathway provides a single access point to an interdisciplinary team covering occupational therapy, psychology, physiotherapy, dietetics and speech and language therapy to support person-centred care planning.

NHS Ayrshire and Arran will see £187,554 for developing its long COVID pathway with an open referral system.

Similar to Lanarkshire, the service will be delivered via a single point of access followed by triage, and multi-disciplinary team coordinated support offering physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and rehabilitation nursing.

In terms of online support and information, £20,000 has also been set aside for the creation of a ‘NHS Inform long COVID microsite’.

Visiting the staff at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde service, Health Secretary Michael Matheson said:

“I recognise the significant impact that the symptoms of long COVID can have on those most severely affected.

“I was very pleased to meet the range of professionals involved in NHS GGC’s long COVID service and hear how the funding we have made available is enabling them to provide advice and support to people living with the condition to improve their quality of life.

“Thanks to the hard work of staff, this service – and others like it across Scotland – are providing invaluable support and treatment through rehabilitation therapies and other strategies.”

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