Welsh Government wants Long COVID community model to also treat and support ME, CFS and MS

On 31st March 2022 the Health Minister Eluned Morgan announced further funding for the Adferiad programme for Long COVID recovery:

“today I am announcing a further £5 million of Adferiad programme funding to be allocated to Health Boards in 2022/23 to support the continuation of health boards’ long COVID services.”

Again there is no funding announcement for ME services but she is “heartened” by the success of the programme and wants to “apply this knowledge to how we treat other long term conditions like MS, ME and CFS.”

“It is hoped by the end of the next six-month period in July, health boards in Wales will take the opportunity to begin to expand the community model to treat and support people with other long-term conditions which have a similar impact as long COVID, including the likes of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).  This would help create effective long term intervention services and reduce variation treating people with different conditions and diagnoses.”

WAMES intends to discuss exactly what this might mean with the soon to be appointed (we hope) Welsh Government policy officer for post viral conditions and Health Board representatives. It is not yet clear if any of the LC community services cater for people with PEM/PESE. It is also unclear if GPs and fatigue services have taken on board the NICE guideline alongside the Long COVID guideline. We’d love to hear from patients and carers whether they are seeing any sign of healthcare improving as we continue to ask NHS Wales to #ImplementNICEmecfs

The Adferiad programme covers:

• primary and community-based rehabilitation services in every health board
• a clinical pathway to improve access and speed up referral where people need more specialist care
• a self-management COVID recovery app
• the All Wales guideline for the management of Long-COVID to provide healthcare professionals with up-to-date advice and learning to support the diagnosis and treatment of long COVID

Health Board services:

North Wales: Betsi Cadwaladr

Mid Wales: Powys

West Wales: Hywel Dda    Swansea Bay

South Wales: Aneurin Bevan     Cardiff & Vale     Cwm Taf

See also:

Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) Long Covid Syndrome Resources 

Welsh Government statement: Further £5million investment for long COVID services

In the media:

Deeside.com: Further £5m investment in ‘innovative’ Long-COVID rehabilitation services

Nation.Cymru: Extra funding announced for innovative long-Covid treatment programme

BBC: Long Covid: People turning to opera to overcome illness

Wrexham.com: Extra £5million investment announced for long-covid services in Wales – includes some results of the review of the Adferiad programme.

The Leader: £5m announced to support long covid sufferers