Question reference: S6W-26737
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 8 April 2024
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Current status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 15 April 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-08992 by Humza Yousaf on 17 June 2022, what it has done to support NHS boards to test the introduction of models of care for long COVID, and how this has benefitted the management of other long-term and complex conditions, including Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME).
Answer
We have established a £10 million long COVID Support Fund, which aims to support NHS Boards to increase the capacity of existing services providing support to people with long COVID, develop these into more clearly defined pathways and to provide a more co-ordinated experience for those accessing support.
We have also commissioned NHS National Services Scotland to establish a National Strategic Network for long COVID. This brings together representatives from NHS Boards across Scotland to provide a forum for the exchange of learning and best practice in delivering supporting and services for people with long COVID.
In May 2023 we published an analysis of survey responses from NHS Scotland Boards on their arrangements for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) care. This is accessible at https://www.gov.scot/publications/myalgic-encephalomyelitis-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-cfs-services-scotland-findings-analysis-surveys-issued-nhs-boards-autumn-2022/ . The report highlights examples noted by NHS Boards of where practice developments relating to ME/CFS and long COVID respectively may have mutually supportive benefits for patient care, and the management of other long term conditions which share common symptoms.