Scotland's Long COVID Approach: A Whole-system Approach to Integrated, High Quality Support for Long-Term Condition Management

11:45 – 13:00

For people experiencing the uncertainty of long COVID, the key to good support is to enable informed choices about care and treatment options, based on what matters most.

Scotland’s Long COVID Service Paper sets out the key elements that underpin the approach to care and support. It also underlines the commitment to making sure NHS Scotland is resourced to respond innovatively to the needs of people with the condition.

This session will be delivered by colleagues from across health and social care, the third sector, National Services Division and Scottish Government - presenting the best available evidence and Scotland’s approach to this new and emerging condition. 

Many of the solutions to current challenges lie outside of statutory services and so work is underway to develop whole-system solutions.  This includes delivering a range of help and support across health and social care and the third sector, making sure that people receive a response that meets their needs.

Delegates attending the session will also hear from Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland who will be providing insights into how this is being delivered in practice through Primary Care services.

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Dr Amy Small

Clinical Advisor, Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland

Amy is Clinical Advisor to Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland where her role involves advocating for better care for people living with long covid. She has been a GP for 14 years and currently works in Lothian. Amy is an integral member of the Lothian long covid pilot, a service supporting self-management of long covid symptoms.

Jack Francis

Managing Director, Pogo Studio

Jack is the Managing Director of Pogo Studio - the software company responsible for the design and development of the Tailored Talks platform, and MyTailoredTalks mobile application. Jack has grown Pogo Studio over the last 6 years into a thriving company, and has delivered work for the likes of Miller Homes, RBS and NHS.

Allan Cowie

Interim CEO, Chest Heart Stroke Scotland

Allan is interim CEO with Chest Heart Stroke Scotland, previously Director of Services with the charity. He has 30 years’ experience working in the health and social care sector with 14 years with Macmillan Cancer Support initially as their General Manager for Scotland and then as a UK Director.

Dr John Harden

Deputy National Clinical Director, Scottish Government

John has worked in Scottish Government since 2016, initially as the National Clinical Lead for Quality and Safety and more recently as a Covid Clinical Director and Senior Medical Advisor to the Chief Medical Officer. He was appointed as Deputy National Clinical Director in October 2020. In this role he supports the senior team responsible for the NHS in Scotland.

Susan Wallace

Head of Clinical Priorities Unit, Scottish Government

Susan has worked in the Scottish Government for 20 years and is currently head of the Clinical Priorities Unit, with responsibility for long COVID.

Karyn Robertson

Scottish Government

Karyn has been working with national networks since 2004 (minus a brief spell in national planning) and currently provides senior programme input to a portfolio of 20 national clinical networks. Since 2021 she has been working with Scottish Government on the national support for long COVID care, culminating in the development of a national strategic network. The network has been operational since February 2022. Prior to working with networks Karyn worked as a Practice Manager. She has a strong interest in quality improvement and has undertaken formal and informal development in this area.

Tim Walsh

Professor of Critical Care and Honorary Consultant in Critical Care, University of Edinburgh / NHS Lothian

Tim Walsh is Professor of Critical Care at the University of Edinburgh and Honorary Consultant in Critical Care at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. He is also Director Innovation for NHS Lothian, and Health Innovation South East Scotland. He is Head of the Academic Dept of Anaesthesia, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine in the University of Edinburgh, and Co-director of Acute Care Edinburgh a multidisciplinary research grouping in the University of Edinburgh Usher Institute.