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I appreciate that that is work in progress. We have heard that over a long period of time, but the feedback that we keep getting from people is that their experience on the ground is still lacking.

That individual said that he had to go private. That has been a consistent theme in what we have heard from long Covid sufferers. People have had to go private to try to access a GP who has expertise in the area. That is fine for those who can afford it, but many people cannot afford it. Have we therefore not created a two-tier system? Is that not unacceptable?

The funds that have been allocated are within this financial year’s budget.

Do the organisations need to spend that money by the end of the financial year or can they roll it over?

Good morning. I will start with a question that is probably best directed to Professor Dame Anna Dominiczak or to Euan Dick from the chief scientist office; it is about the research into long Covid that you have been funding. Could you tell us a bit about how you have taken decisions about the areas in which to fund research and what you view as the priority areas for research to be done in?

So what you are saying is that you have done some research, but you have only skimmed the surface, in effect, and a lot more work needs to be done in that field,

Thank you—that is very helpful. We have your written submission, which provides some more detail on the projects that you are funding.

Can you tell us about the findings that are emerging at this stage? Are there any themes that are coming through from the research that has been done so far?

I have one more question on that before I move on. Are there any gaps in areas of research that you need to address through future funding rounds?

That is very helpful.

I have a question on a slightly different topic for Professor Cooper and Professor Duncan. I was interested to read the comments in your written submission about self-management strategies for people with long Covid. You suggest that the evidence base for the effectiveness of those strategies is “limited”, and you say that your study

“found that many people who present for assessment for Long Covid Rehabilitation are considered unsuitable for self-management”.

That is interesting, because it reflects some of the feedback that we, as a committee, have had from long Covid sufferers. Will you elaborate a little bit on what your research in that field has been telling you?

I am asking only about research on long Covid.

Good morning to the panel. I want to follow up on some of the issues that you have highlighted. I was interested to hear that the three of you are putting forward three different approaches.

As a committee, we have found that, when we speak to long Covid sufferers in Scotland, there is a persistent theme coming through. They feel that the services are not there to support them, and a lot of them have latched on to the notion of long Covid clinics, which we do not currently have in Scotland, as a solution. However, we have also seen some evidence to suggest that those clinics have quite a mixed response from patients, with people complaining about long waiting lists or appointments being available only remotely rather than face to face. I would like to understand from each of you how your approach is positive and is working; what the pros and cons are; and what evaluations are being done of the patient experience.