LCK In The News

The Press and Journal reports that cross-party politicians have joined forces to write to Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf demanding answers for 175,000 people with long Covid. In June last year, Mr Yousaf met families of children with long Covid.
Helen Goss, who is COO for Long Covid Kids and Scottish Rep for the charity, is reported as saying nothing has changed to support her daughter Anna, who is in a wheelchair. “Over a year later and we still have no paediatric support, diagnostics or treatment... If families cannot afford private healthcare, they are isolated and forgotten"

Ministers are “failing” children with long Covid amid a refusal to commit more support for patients suffering with the debilitating condition, campaigners have said.
Helen Goss, whose daughter Anna now uses a wheelchair because of long Covid, said a letter by public health minister Jenni Minto was “complete drivel”.
Minto was replying to cross-party politicians demanding evidence of what action has been taken to help the estimated 175,000 people, including children, with the condition.

The WHO reports that as we transition out of the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, the perplexing shadow pandemic of long COVID continues. There is a long way to go before the mechanisms of the virus are understood and broad-ranging treatments can be applied.
Professor Berg calls on health systems, politicians and policy-makers to recognize the impact of long COVID, increase access to health care for those who need it, and establish multidisciplinary health-care teams that include patient representatives in treatment strategies.

The Telegraph reports that Mr Johnson’s dismissal of long Covid emerged in comments made by Anthony Metzer KC, a lawyer acting for support groups including Long Covid Kids and Long Covid SOS.
In October 2020, while the Department of Health and Social Care was publishing guidance on long Covid and called for recognition and support for people with long Covid, then prime minister Boris Johnson scrawled in capitals that long Covid was ‘b------s’,” said Mr Metzer.
Mr Johnson has submitted a witness statement to the inquiry, chaired by Baroness Hallett, in which he also appeared to be dismissive of Gulf War syndrome – something that will likely anger war veterans as well.
The inquiry will be concerned to probe how the former prime minister could possibly hold this view in October 2020

The Evening Standard reports that Anthony Metzer KC, speaking on behalf of Long Covid Kids, Long Covid SOS and Long Covid Support, told the inquiry that Mr Johnson initially “denied the truth of the suffering” of long Covid patients.
"In October 2020, while the Department of Health and Social Care was publishing guidance on long Covid and called for recognition and support for people with long Covid, then Prime Minister Boris Johnson scrawled in capitals that long Covid was ‘bollocks’.
Adults and children were and still are suffering from debilitating, painful and terrifying symptoms for months and now years after infection, and yet Mr Johnson denied the truth of their suffering".