The mother of an 11-year-old girl has launched legal action against her local health board after her daughter suffered with long Covid.
Helen Goss, from Westhill in Aberdeenshire, is hoping to receive damages on behalf of her daughter Anna Hendy.
The action, which is being led by Thompsons Solicitors Scotland, claims medical negligence from NHS Grampian towards the schoolgirl.
The schoolgirl has suffered from long Covid since March 2020.
Helen Goss (left) and Anna Hendy (right)
HELEN GOSS
However, NHS Grampian said it could not comment on individual patient cases.
The 11-year-old has been unable to return to school, now uses a wheelchair and is often confined to her bed.
In a statement released on social media, Goss said her family had “tirelessly navigated and exhausted all avenues within NHS Grampian”.
The mother, who is the chief operating officer for charity Long Covid Kids, claimed the family had faced “medical gaslighting, dismissal and had constantly been denied NHS care”.
Goss added: “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.
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An image of Helen Goss’ letter
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“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, who is seeking an apology alongside damages, was forced to seek private treatment for her daughter, claiming: “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.”
NHS Grampian recently revealed it was in the process of creating a new treatment pathway for children affected by the condition
NHS GRAMPIAN
NHS Grampian recently revealed it was in the process of creating a new treatment pathway for children affected by the condition.
A spokesperson for the health board said: “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.”
