Chamber and committees

Thank you, Janis. Manira Ahmad, this might be a good question for you. What support do children with long Covid have when they are transitioning into adult services? For example, if they developed long Covid when they were 15 and are now coming up to 18, how do they transition into adult services? Is there support for them?

Yes.

We have heard from previous witnesses that there is a lack of awareness among local GPs. However, when I went to my GP last week, there were signs up all over the place asking people to talk to a doctor if they have long Covid. I think that the position varies from place to place.

We move to questions from Murdo Fraser.

Good morning, and welcome to the fourth meeting in 2023 of the COVID-19 Recovery Committee. We continue our inquiry into long Covid. I welcome Jane-Claire Judson, chief executive officer of Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland; Dr Amy Small, clinical adviser to Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, who joins us online; Dr David Shackles, joint chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners Scotland; Lorraine Crothers, board member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, who joins us online; and Dr Claire Taylor, from Tayside Complete Health Ltd and expert adviser on long Covid to the World Health Network, who will be joining us online shortly.

Thank you for giving us your time and for your written submissions. We estimate that the session will run up to about 10 past 10. Each member will have about 10 minutes to speak to the witnesses and ask their questions.

If a witness who is attending remotely would like to respond to an issue being discussed, I ask them to type “R” in the chat box, please, and I will bring them in. I am keen to ensure that everyone gets an opportunity to speak. I apologise in advance because, if time runs on too much, I might have to interrupt members or witnesses in the interests of brevity.

I invite the witnesses to briefly introduce themselves.

Thank you. I will ask the first question. Dr Taylor, based on your experience as a GP running a private practice that specialises in treating long Covid, how do you think the national health service could improve long Covid treatment and services?

Thank you, Dr Taylor. I am sorry, but I must interrupt. I am conscious of time, and we still have three members to get through.

I am conscious of the time. We were meant to finish at 10 past the hour. I suggest that we extend to 20 past, if that is all right with the witnesses. I call Brian Whittle.

We will now continue to take evidence in the long Covid inquiry. I welcome our second panel of witnesses to the meeting. Judy Thomson, director of training for psychology services, and Professor Lindsay Donaldson, deputy medical director, are from NHS Education for Scotland; Linda Currie is associate allied health professions director of NHS Highland; Heather Cameron is director of allied health professions at NHS Lothian; Janis Heaney, who is joining us online, is associate director of national strategic networks, national specialist and screening services directorate at NHS National Services Scotland; and Manira Ahmad is chief officer at Public Health Scotland. I thank everybody for giving us their time this morning.

We estimate that this part of the meeting will run until about 25 past 11—I have added an extra 10 minutes—and each member will have approximately 10 minutes to speak to the witnesses and ask their questions. I am keen to ensure that everybody gets an opportunity to speak, so I apologise in advance if time runs on too much and I have to interrupt members or witnesses in the interests of brevity.

If Janis Heaney, who is joining us online, would like to respond to an issue that is being discussed, she should type “R” in the chat box, please, and we will bring her in.

I invite the witnesses to introduce themselves briefly.

I move straight to questions from Alex Rowley.

Thank you, Stuart. Does anybody else want to come in on what the Scottish Government could be doing to raise awareness further?