Round 57,000 individuals in Scotland are estimated to have been dwelling with lengthy Covid for greater than a 12 months. This newest determine is a soar from 31,000 seen in 2021 on the similar time.
Estimates from the Workplace for Nationwide Statistics (ONS) present 164,000 individuals in Scotland reside with the situation general. In response to this information, charity Chest Coronary heart & Stroke Scotland have referred to as for motion to make sure these with lengthy Covid can entry the total vary of providers they want.
In keeping with the NHS, lengthy Covid is seen in those that have recovered from Covid-19 however proceed to expertise signs for greater than 12 weeks. ONS statistics additional report the most typical signs of the situation to be fatigue, shortness of breath, lack of scent and muscle ache.
A pilot undertaking has been launched by the charity in NHS Lothian which permits GPs to refer sufferers to its lengthy Covid help service. Allan Cowie, the charity's interim chief government, mentioned: "Tens of 1000's of individuals in Scotland have been dwelling with the consequences of lengthy Covid for nicely over a 12 months now and their day by day lives are being massively impacted by debilitating signs.
"Folks dwelling with the situation inform us that lengthy Covid is affecting their capacity to work, socialise with family and friends, train and even go away the home. On high of that they're nonetheless struggling to entry the assessments they want and help is not constant.
"There must be a full wraparound package deal of care in place that caters to individuals's medical wants and offers holistic help to assist them dwell nicely with their situation. The pilot undertaking that we developed with NHS Lothian and Pogo Digital Healthcare has allowed us to combine our service with major care so GPs can simply refer sufferers immediately into our lengthy Covid help service.
"We wish to undertake this method throughout the nation and we're interesting to the Scottish Authorities to assist ensure this occurs shortly."
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