Long covid and chronic fatigue syndrome

​Request 768417452​ 

Please may I request any statistics held on the amount of people that have been diagnosed with long covid 19 and or chronic fatigue syndrome. 

Response 

Long Covid: 

As noted in a Freedom of Information response published to www.gov.je in November 2022, diagnosis of Long Covid (also known as Post-Covid Syndrome) is made by healthcare professionals, e.g., GPs, hospital consultants and other Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) prior to the person being seen in the Long Covid Clinic. Following such a diagnosis, patients are referred if there is an ongoing clinical need. 

Many people can be managed under the care of their GP and so do not require onwards referral to Health and Care Jersey (HCJ) for care through the Long Covid Clinic. GP practices are private businesses and HCJ does not hold data on GP diagnosed cases of Long Covid for anyone who has not been referred into the service. As such, HCJ is unable to confirm the total number of people diagnosed with Long Covid in Jersey, and Article 3 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 applies.

A total of 262 unique patient referrals were received by the Long Covid Clinic in 2022, with a further 70 referrals received in 2023. 

231 individuals had appointments with the clinic in 2022.

55 individuals had appointments with the clinic in 2023. 

The number of referrals to the Long Covid Clinic represents all data held by HCJ on the number of professionally diagnosed cases of Long Covid. No clinics have been held since December 2023. 

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: 

HCJ does not hold a record of the total number of people diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis or post-viral fatigue syndrome) in Jersey. Article 3 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 applies. 

There is no database of the cohort of patients diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome who receive care through HCJ outpatient services, nor are there clinics dedicated to this condition. As with Long Covid, chronic fatigue syndrome may be diagnosed and managed through GP services or other tertiary care centres without the involvement of HCJ, 

Clinical coding of inpatient admissions from January 2020 to December 2025 has been reviewed. 

No inpatient admissions have been recorded with a diagnosis code representing chronic fatigue syndrome / myalgic encephalomyelitis / post-viral fatigue syndrome assigned as the main condition treated or investigated during the admission (primary diagnosis). 

A total of 88 unique patients have been admitted from January 2020 to December 2025 where a diagnosis code representing chronic fatigue syndrome / myalgic encephalomyelitis / post-viral fatigue syndrome has been assigned in a secondary diagnosis position, identifying that these individuals have a diagnosis of the condition documented in their medical history. 

Article applied 

Article 3 - Meaning of “information held by a public authority"

For the purposes of this Law, information is held by a public authority if –

(a)     it is held by the authority, otherwise than on behalf of another person; or

(b)     it is held by another person on behalf of the authority.​​