Table 3. Themes for HCPs.

Theme/Subtheme	Supporting data
Theme: Rarity discourse from HCPs Subtheme: Long Covid is rare	• Dr [redacted HCP name], consultant paediatrician at the UK Health Security Agency and study chief investigator, said: ’It is reassuring that the vast majority of primary and secondary school aged children surveyed since March 2020 have not experienced long Covid symptoms. ’These new data should be reassuring for parents, clinicians and policy-makers. (Mail Online, 1st March, 2022) [45] • Dr [redacted HCP name], based at Mater, UCD and Rotunda hospitals, warned: "Long Covid seems to be rare in children, but it doesn’t matter. If it’s your child there needs to be a service for even one child with Long Covid. It’s a failure once again." (The Sun, 15th August, 2022) [51]
Theme: HCP perceptions of disease validity Subtheme: Long Covid is validated	• [Redacted HCP name] warned: ’Kids get less Covid symptoms, they are less likely to die, they are less likely to end up hospital patients. But they do get side effects.’ (The Scottish Daily Mail, 22nd July 2021) [52] • GP and author Dr [redacted HCP name] said that while the virus was mild in young children, they were getting long Covid, which was a "real concern". (The Daily Mirror, 14th March 2022) [55]
Theme: HCP perceptions of disease validity Subtheme: Pathologisation avoidance	• Dr [redacted HCP name] of the MCRI and University of Fribourg said symptoms of long Covid were difficult to distinguish from those attributable to the indirect effects of the pandemic, such as school closures, not seeing friends or being unable to do sports and hobbies. (PA Media, 16th September 2021) [44] • Dr [redacted HCP name] said long Covid exhibits the same pattern as other post-viral illnesses, which children are as susceptible to, as adults. Most people will experience some level of post-viral fatigue at some point in their lives. (The Daily Mirror, 1st November 2020) [56] • "I’m talking to paediatricians who are already getting referrals—the numbers aren’t huge. . . I don’t think there’s a huge cause for concern," she said, adding that what parents are most frustrated by is that nobody knows much about it because it’s a new condition. "The good news is that the majority of young people who get chronic fatigue tend to get better with appropriate support." (The Guardian, 2nd March 2021) [57]
Theme: HCP perceptions of disease validity Subtheme: Long Covid as an already established psychological disorder	• Other doctors had determined that her condition was psychological. (The Guardian, 10th August 2021) [58] • The study, which has been running since March 2020, involved 134 schools and inputs from the parents of 4,870 pupils. Dr [redacted HCP name], of King’s College London, said: "There was no significant difference in the numbers presenting with a ’probable mental disorder’ between both groups, whether test positive or negative. . .” (The Daily Telegraph, 1st March 2022) [53] • Kids with long Covid are treated terribly. The failings of doctors on this is huge. Most still put it down to anxiety. (The Scotsman, 5th June 2022) [48]
Theme: Difficulties with diagnosis Subtheme: difficulties with diagnosis	• Dr [redacted HCP name], a GP and Glasgow Tory MSP, has raised concerns that long Covid in children is that it can be particularly difficult to diagnose. He said: ’The problem with kids is that, unless it’s blindingly obvious, it’s difficult getting information out of them.’ (The Scottish Daily Mail, 22nd July 2021) [52] • Dr [redacted HCP name], a champion for Long Covid Kids Scotland, told Scotland on Sunday: “Long Covid in kids seems to be hidden but the data shows it’s a big problem. My concern is what happens if we don’t get confirmation of infection. This is so important. It will have an impact and will increase inequalities. Those who can pay will access tests.” (The Scotsman, 5th June 2022) [48]
Theme: HCPs uninformed	• “From the start we have been doing this blind. Doctors have no strategy for how to help [redacted CYP name]…” (The Scotsman, 5th June 2022) [48] • "Our children aren’t being recognised as Long Covid sufferers because doctors aren’t joining the dots between a wide range of symptoms. " (The Sun, 7th February 2021) [43] • Her mother, [redacted parent name], said clinicians have been supportive, but they have "openly admitted they don’t know a lot about long Covid". (Independent Print, 16th June 2021) [59] • "GPs deal in certainties but there are no certainties here, just a litany of new symptoms. We’ve been bounced endlessly between child and mental health services and the GP, but still no one has any idea how to help my son." (The Guardian, 3rd May 2021) [60]