Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage GPs to develop expertise in Long Covid to enable them to help patients suffering with this condition.

On 11 November 2021 the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network published COVID-19 rapid guideline: managing the long-term effects of COVID-19. This guidance addresses the identification and management of post-COVID-19 syndrome in all healthcare settings, including primary care. A copy of the guidance is attached.

NHS England and NHS Improvement have also worked with the Royal College of General Practitioners to produce advice for general practitioners in the management of the long-term effects of COVID-19 and with Health Education England to produce e-learning modules on COVID-19 recovery and rehabilitation to support the educational development of healthcare professionals.

A one-year enhanced service for general practice aims to increase knowledge on identifying, assessing, referring and supporting patients experiencing the long term effects of COVID-19. NHS England and NHS Improvement are also developing a plan to further clarify the role of general practice, which is due for publication in spring 2022.