THE mother of an 11-year-old girl with Long Covid has launched legal action against a health board in what is thought to be the first case regarding the condition of its kind in Scotland.
Helen Goss, from Westhill in Aberdeenshire, is seeking “damages” stemming from what she claims is medical negligence towards her daughter Anna Hendy, who has suffered with Long Covid since March 2020.
Anna has been unable to return to school, needs to use a wheelchair and is often confined to her bed.
In a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, Goss said her family have “tirelessly, navigated and exhausted all avenues within NHS Grampian”.
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She made strong allegations about the health board, saying she and her family have faced “medical gaslighting, dismissal” and were “consistently” denied NHS care.
She wrote: “Anna has suffered with Long Covid since March 2020 and for almost four years, we have tirelessly navigated and exhausted all avenues within NHS Grampian.
“It is regrettable that pursuing legal action seems to be the only viable option to progress and secure the healthcare that Anna urgently requires and rightfully deserves.
“NHS Grampian has neglected to uphold Anna’s right to the best possible health, as outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) Article 24.
“The health board also exhibited a lack of seriousness in addressing our formal complaint, attempting to close it without resolution on four separate occasions.”
Goss has sought private treatment for Anna which she said “should and could” have been provided by NHS Grampian.
In her statement, she added: “Despite repeated requests to the health board, the necessary treatment and care were consistently denied.
“This failure on the part of NHS Grampian to fulfil their duty of care has resulted in medical negligence, causing additional harm and trauma to Anna and our family.”
In seeking legal action, the family are hoping to hold NHS Grampian accountable for its alleged failures and inaction as well as obtain a formal apology for Anna for what they claim is avoidable trauma and harm.
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Goss also called for improved clinical protocols for children and young people with Long Covid by implementing comprehensive training and upskilling initiatives for paediatric clinicians to safeguard other families from enduring the challenges they have faced.
The family is being represented by Thompsons Solicitors and say they are “hopeful” for a positive resolution to the case.
Goss is the chief operation officer of charity Long Covid Kids and said funding for the condition is “inadequate and insulting”.
Last year, Goss told the Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry she had spent “many an evening crying on the bathroom floor” because she had “absolutely no idea what to do next”.
A spokesperson for NHS Grampian said: "We cannot comment on individual patient cases.
"A long covid pathway of care for children has been designed with the input of those with lived experience of the condition and is in the final stages of development, along with a new website for families.
"NHS Grampian has a Long Covid Project Board and a Long Covid Paediatric Steering Group which help to inform our work. We also now have a paediatric long covid practitioner as well as a paediatric clinical lead for long covid. Children who are suffering with symptoms are managed by the appropriate clinicians according to their needs.
"The team is always happy to hear from those who have experienced long covid, as well as parents and carers, regardless of the severity of their symptoms."
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