Ms Sarah O'Connell:

I have been involved in the long Covid kids charity since 2022, before we founded LCAI. Since then, I have been speaking to parents of children with long Covid. The official line has been that because the Government believes long Covid is so rare in children and of short duration - so we were told - there is no a requirement for specialised services. That means parents should take their child to the GP and the GP would then refer on to a general paediatric consultant if necessary.

Before I start talking to these parents, I can predict what they will tell me, which is this desperately sad thing. We hear the same story of their going to the GP with a child who is really unwell with ongoing symptoms. They go back and forth for months only to be that their child is probably just stressed and anxious after the lockdown and should be referred to psychological services. Eventually after pushing and pushing, the parents might get a referral to a paediatric consultant. However, the feedback we have from parents has been that it is then a repeat of the same experience. They have found that the consultant has no knowledge of long Covid, incorrectly believes it is a psychological issue or, most worrying, gives advice inconsistent with what we know about long Covid, which is to get out, get fresh air and exercise, as well as keep going to school.