CHSS Calls for National Approach to Long Covid Care on International Long Covid Awareness Day 2023 15 March 2023 March 15th marks the first International Long Covid Awareness Day 175,000 people in Scotland are living with Long Covid – more than the population of Dundee This International Long Covid Awareness Day, the thousands of people in Scotland living with Long Covid are feeling scared, alone, and left behind to deal with the life-altering condition as the rest of the world moves on from the Covid-19 pandemic. The charity wants better support for those living with the condition, and is calling for a national approach to ensure that all health boards are able to provide multi-disciplinary care and integrated referrals to third sector support for those living with Long Covid. The charity has been advocating for those living with Long Covid since 2020, as well as developing vital services to support people living with the chronic condition. On International Long Covid Awareness Day we are thinking of the thousands of Scots whose lives have been devastated by this debilitating and unpredictable condition. CHSS has worked closely with NHS Lothian and Pogo Digital to deliver personalised health information and one to one self-management support to patients in NHS Lothian. This service was developed specifically to fit into NHS systems, allowing the charity to provide essential support to people with Long Covid, collaborating with NHS services and freeing up capacity in primary care. However, until every health board can refer to this service, only a small number of those who need it will benefit from it. We will continue to support those living with Long Covid through our services and support groups, as well as calling on the Scottish Government to provide better access to services. Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland Clinical Adviser, Dr Amy Small, experienced living with Long Covid after contracting Covid-19 in April 2020 and has been a fierce advocate for greater care for those with the condition. Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland Clinical Adviser, Dr Amy Small, experienced living with Long Covid after contracting Covid-19 in April 2020 and has been a fierce advocate for greater care for those with the condition. Commenting on International Long Covid Awareness Day, Dr Amy Small said: “Long covid is a devastating and long-term illness that is still very poorly understood and supported in this country. “There is a significant lack of awareness and support for the 175 000 people who are living with the condition in Scotland today. “Specifically, there continues to be a lack of access to specialist diagnostics and treatment, with inequalities in care provided by local health boards in Scotland which particularly impact those living in more rural areas.” Chief Executive of Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland, Jane-Claire Judson commented; “On International Long Covid Awareness Day we are thinking of the thousands of Scots whose lives have been devastated by this debilitating and unpredictable condition. “Long Covid continues to have a significant social and economic impact in Scotland, and yet there is still a woeful lack of understanding and care available for those coping with it on a daily basis. “We know from speaking with members of our Long Covid support groups that they feel scared, abandoned and left behind. “At CHSS we believe the lack of understanding amongst the general public and more specifically within the Scottish Government is contributing to the stigma surrounding Long Covid and the lack of support available. “We will continue to support those living with Long Covid through our services and support groups, as well as calling on the Scottish Government to provide better access to services such as our ‘mytailoredtalks’ Long Covid Support Pathway, currently available to those living in Lothian and Midlothian.” We’re helping people like John. John is living with Long Covid and has felt its debilitating effects severely, his left side left numb with pins and needles and a chronic fatigue that leaves him exhausted. Read John’s story. People looking for Long Covid advice can call the Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland Advice Line on 0800 801 0899 or email adviceline@chss.org.uk. Find out more about Long Covid and support available.