Call for an inquiry into the persistent and historical gaps in care for those with ME and Long Covid - A letter to the Health and Social Care Select Committee (#ThereForME, 28 October 2024)

Summary

This is letter from #ThereForME calls for an inquiry into the persistent and historical gaps in care for those with ME and Long Covid. It is co-signed by 28 organisations and smaller initiatives and has been sent to the Chair of the Select Committee, Layla Moran MP.

Patient Safety Learning are one of the signatories of this letter. 

Content

The letter recommends that an inquiry is undertaken by the Health and Social Care Committee with a remit to investigate:

• Current gaps in care for ME and Long Covid, and their connections to historic approaches to infection-associated chronic conditions (including NHS care and research funding).
• Economic impacts, including the relationship between growing economic inactivity in the UK’s working age population and the lack of meaningful service provision for people with ME and Long Covid.
• Recommendations to strengthen future care and research for people with ME, Long Covid and other infection-associated chronic conditions - and how this can inform wider pandemic preparedness (including public health prevention strategies to mitigate the future health burden of infection-associated chronic conditions).
• Attitudes towards and assistance for patients with ME and Long Covid in society, including benefits provision, disability assistance, social care and guidance for settings including workplaces and education.