Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support people who have experienced a decline in brain function since being diagnosed with covid-19.

NHS England and NHS Improvement operate 90 post-COVID-19 assessment services in England. Services are currently recruiting expert clinical teams, including psychologists, physiotherapists, nurses and occupational therapists to support those experiencing symptoms associated with the long-term effects of COVID-19, such as cognitive impairment, and direct them to appropriate care pathways.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence have published ‘COVID-19 rapid guideline: managing the long-term effects of COVID-19’. The guideline includes a recommendation to use a validated screening tool to measure any impairment and impact, if a person reports new cognitive symptoms. The guideline is available at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng188/chapter/Recommendations