North-east long Covid sufferer's access the healthcare issues raised at Holyrood
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The right of Scotland’s long Covid sufferers to access the healthcare they need has been highlighted at the Scottish Parliament.
A “call to action” took place at the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday, where campaigners met MSPs and the media to talk about their experiences with the condition.
Scottish Conservative MSPs Alexander Burnett, Tess White, Liam Kerr and Mr Lumsden signed a declaration of support at Holyrood.
And later, during a debate on Long Covid support, Mr Lumsden raised the case of Westhill 11-year-old Anna Goss, who became severely unwell after initially having a mild case of Covid when she was seven.
An action was raised against NHS Grampian over negligence in treatment.
In the members’ business secured by Dr Sandesh Gulhane MSP, Douglas Lumsden said: “For the estimated 187,000 people in Scotland who are living with long Covid the pandemic never ended…
“An estimated one in 10 cases of Covid develop into long Covid.
“Like one of my constituents, Helen Goss, who is having to take legal action against NHS Grampian because of the poor or non-existent long Covid treatment her daughter is receiving.
“Helen has been regrettably forced down the roots of legal action, as it seemed to be the only viable option to progress and secure the healthcare that her daughter Anna urgently requires, and rightfully deserves.
“And as a parent, I can't imagine what Helen is going through. She desperately wants help for her daughter and must feel frustrated at the lack of help she's receiving. What has it come to that parents are having to go to court to get medical assistance?
“How can this be right — 10,000 kids are being let down.
"We can't leave them behind.”
