Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if we will make an assessment of the potential merits of implementing centrally-funded specialist hubs to support patients with Long Covid across the UK.

Since April 2024, in line with the National Health Service operating framework and the establishment of integrated care systems, the commissioning of services to support patients with Long Covid has been the responsibility of integrated care boards. Where local Long Covid services are not available, people with Long Covid symptoms should see their general practitioner, who will be able to refer them to alternative existing services depending on their clinical needs and symptoms.

To help improve care for those living with post-infection conditions, the template service specification for mild and moderate myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), which is currently being developed in conjunction with NHS England, is set to include Long Covid. The template aims to improve pathways through care for patients with Long Covid, ME/CFS, and other related conditions.