Question reference: S6W-11205
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 29 September 2022
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Current status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 31 October 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to increase the budget of the Long COVID Support Fund to reflect (a) inflation and (b) any growth in the number of people affected by Long COVID.
Answer
As set out by the Deputy First Minister on 7 September 2022, there is a finite budget and, as a result of inflation eroding the purchasing power of available funding, the Scottish Government budget is now worth £1.7 billion less than it was in December 2021. As a result, health funding is worth £650 million less and the Scottish Government continues to work with Health Boards to mitigate the impact of financial pressures across services, including those supporting the needs of people living with long COVID.
£3 million of the £10 million long COVID Support Fund has been made available to NHS Boards and key partners over 2022-23. We engage with NHS Boards on a regular basis regarding their capacity needs, and will continue to do so in order to inform the allocation of the fund.