Meetings

The Committee considered the petition and noted that the petitioner has now met with the Minister’s officials and the petition has been open for three years. Whilst many people in Wales continue to suffer from long covid, it is unclear what else the Committee could do to take the petition further. Members agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner for raising this important issue.

The Committee considered the petition and expressed their disappointment that a meeting between Welsh Government officials and the petitioner has not taken place and that no contact has been made.  Members agreed to write to the Minister expressing the Committee’s disappointment and request that contact is made with the petitioner at the earliest opportunity.

The Committee agreed that whilst Welsh Government are delivering services which meet the needs of many people with Long Covid, it is clear that this is not appropriate for all as highlighted by the petitioner. The Committee agreed to write to the Minister suggesting that the Welsh Government may find it valuable to meet with the petitioner and other patients to listen to their concerns and suggestions. The Committee noted it would be useful to link the petitioner to the work being undertaken by the cross-party group on long COVID.

The Committee noted the Minister will be reviewing the service shortly and agreed to:

• write again to the Minister asking how this future delivery is being shaped and urging her to include the patient voice within the delivery plan and
• highlight the petition to the cross-party group on long Covid.

The Committee agreed to seek further clarification from the Welsh Government regarding how the services in Wales meet the NICE COVID-19 rapid guideline: managing the long-term effects of COVID-19,  whether they plan to introduce medically led long covid clinics and how sharing and learning with other countries will be taken forward.