4. Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Services supporting people to recover from COVID-19

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:52 pm on 15 June 2021.

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Photo of Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan Labour 4:52, 15 June 2021

Thanks very much, Hefin. Can I thank you also for establishing this long COVID cross-party group? We've heard that complaint also—that many have found it difficult to get past the GP. That's why, on 18 June, the all-Wales guideline for the management of long COVID is going to be launched, giving much clearer guidance to GPs on what they should be looking out for and when they should be referring on. So, all of that should be in place, and I'm hoping that people on that call today will be comforted that it will be put in place. I hope that proves that, actually, we have been listening to patients. I've made a point of listening to patients, of looking at what is being said on social media channels. But also I think it's incumbent upon me to listen to the clinical advice that I'm given, and the advice that I have been given, very clearly, is that the route that we want to follow in Wales, and the route that conforms with our approach, which is to give care as close to home as possible, actually makes sense for us, to make sure that that route is through the GP. What we need to do is to strengthen the understanding of people in primary care, and to make sure that then they are directing into secondary care if and when necessary.