Nus Ghani, MP for Wealden, has welcomed the news of a further £18.5 million of Government funding to drive research into the longer-term health effects of Covid-19.
Long Covid describes a mix of often debilitating longer-term mental and physical health effects among patients who have experienced the virus, including fatigue, breathlessness, and headaches. Research has shown that one in ten people who have contracted Covid-19 may have symptoms for 12 weeks or longer.
The funding will be divided between four research studies to identify the causes of Long Covid and effective therapies to treat people who experience chronic symptoms of the disease. The impact of Long Covid on children will also be investigated.
NHS England has already launched 69 specialist assessment service centres across England, which assess adults, children, and young people of all ages with suspected Long Covid and direct them toward a relevant clinical treatment pathway. More clinics are due to open across England in the coming weeks
Nus Ghani said: “Long Covid is a serious condition for a small but significant proportion of those who get the disease. I am acutely aware that regrettably, many Wealden residents who contracted Covid are suffering chronic symptoms and I am pleased there is more being done to understand the causes, symptoms and treatment of the condition. I welcome the Government’s commitment to ensuring that the UK becomes a world leader in Long Covid research, treatment, and care, and I am pleased that these new projects will help us better understand and tackle Long Covid.”
