More than 2,400 nurses off work with Long Covid

Following new Scottish Liberal Democrat analysis which shows that more than 2,400 nurses were absent from work due to Long Covid, party leader and health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today warned the Scottish Government that it is not doing anywhere near enough to deliver support and care for those with the illness.    

A freedom of information request submitted by the Scottish Liberal Democrats revealed that since 2020:  

• 2,414 nurses across 11 health boards have taken sick leave due to Long Covid.
• 1,165 nurses in Greater Glasgow & Clyde have taken sick leave due to Long Covid.
• The longest time a staff member had been off with Long Covid was 957 days in NHS Grampian, 882 days in NHS Fife, 798 days in NHS Highland and 792 days in NHS Tayside.

Mr Cole-Hamilton said:  

“These astonishing figures are a damning verdict of the Scottish Government’s complete lack of care for Long Covid victims.

“Long Covid is an enormously debilitating condition which disrupts and devastates lives. This nationalist government's response has been so poor that many Scots would be better off moving to England where more robust care pathways are available.  

“Our NHS is already at boiling point and if this lacklustre approach from the SNP and Greens continues, we will see even more staff absences, even more pressure on services.

“Nurses and other Long Covid sufferers cannot afford to be put on hold any longer without solutions. These sky-high absences must propel the government into action. Scottish Liberal Democrats are calling on Humza Yousaf to improve funding for Long Covid.    

“We need to see dedicated Long Covid clinics set up across the country and Scotland-wide access to physiotherapy and multi-disciplinary rehab. Otherwise, nurses and their patients will pay the price.”