Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has taken recent steps to further research into (a) the nature of long covid and (b) the impact of long covid on people’s health.

Over £50 million has already been invested in long COVID research projects to improve our understanding of the diagnosis, underlying mechanisms of the disease and the effectiveness of both pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies and interventions, as well as to evaluate clinical care.

The National Institute for Health and Care Research and UK Research and Innovation’s Medical Research Council continue to welcome funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including long COVID. It is not usual practice to ring-fence funds for particular topics or conditions. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the topic’s importance to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence will continue to monitor the emergence of new evidence around the treatment of long COVID and update guidance to reflect this.