Dr Phil White, Chair of the BMA's Welsh General Practitioners Committee said:

“We welcome today’s announcement which will enable GP’s to deliver appropriate care to patients suffering from the long-term symptoms of COVID-19 with appropriate specialist support. These include chronic fatigue, muscle weakness, loss of sense of smell, and concentration difficulties, which have impacted the lives of people in our communities.

“In a recent survey of BMA members, as much as a third of doctors said they had treated patients with long term COVID-19 symptoms and so this investment goes some way to recognise the additional pressure on primary care and in particular GP services.

“The focus of delivering personalised care will help to meet the needs of patients who now find themselves needing varying degrees of support. Some of these patients are colleagues in healthcare settings including practice staff who have remained vulnerable to the virus and its harmful effects.

“Staff sickness from COVID-19 has placed an additional burden on our ability to deliver care for our patients and we hope that in future, additional investment will be placed on learning lessons from the pandemic about how to better protect healthcare staff to avoid this happening in future”

Notes to editors

The BMA is a trade union and professional association representing and negotiating on behalf of all doctors in the UK. A leading voice advocating for outstanding health care and a healthy population. An association providing members with excellent individual services and support throughout their lives.