Long COVID Service

What is Long COVID?

Following the initial COVID-19 infection some people continue to have symptoms for longer than others. When the symptoms last for longer than 12 weeks this could be called Long COVID or Post-COVID Syndrome. The exact number of people who are experiencing Long COVID is unknown, we think this may effect up to 1 in 10 people.

Definitions of COVID

Acute COVID

• Symptoms of COVID-19 infection at 0-4 weeks from initial infection

Prolonged-COVID / On-going symptomatic COVID-19

• Symptoms lasting greater than 4 weeks, but up to 12 weeks from initial infection

• Approximately 20-25%, i.e. 1 in 4 people, who get COVID, will still have ongoing symptoms up to 12 weeks after their initial infection.

Post-COVID Syndrome

• Persistent symptoms greater than 12 weeks from initial infection

'Long COVID'

• There is no agreed medical definition about what 'Long COVID' is

• 'Long COVID' as a name, started on social media and has been adopted for use widely

• Sometimes it refers to symptoms after 4 weeks, sometimes it refers to symptoms after 12 weeks

• For clarity, on this website, we will use 'Long COVID to refer to symptoms over 12 weeks after initial COVID-19 infection

Some common symptoms of Long COVID include:

You might be experiencing some or all of these symptoms - everybody's experience is different

· Fatigue

· Breathlessness

· Fast heart beat (or palpitations)

· Altered cognition or brain fog

· Altered taste and/or smell

· Anxiety

· Low mood

· Change in sleep pattern

About the Long COVID Service

Most people who develop COVID-19 improve with time and support from their GP. However when symptoms don't improve after about 12 weeks you may need more specialist help. If you are concerned or would like anymore support, please discuss this with your GP. The Long COVID Service aims to work with you to understand your individual experience and develop a plan to help you.

Whilst you are under the care of the Long COVID service you may see some or all of our team members, depending on your individual needs.

The Long COVID service is a multidisciplinary team including:

· Specialist doctors/consultants

· Occupational therapists

· Physiotherapists

· Psychological therapists

· Wellbeing for life

Meet the team:

Management Team

Dr Jen Steel - Medical Director Community Services, Long COVID Sponsor/Lead

Louse Nelson - Associate Director of Therapies, Long COVID Lead

Kelly Hudson - Long Covid Service Operational Manager

Consultants

Dr Philippa Bolton - Consultant Psychiatrist

Dr Richard Geary - Consultant Anaesthetist

GPs

Dr Caroline Gibson - Lead GP

Dr Jenny Smith

Therapies

Sarah Rice - Occupational Therapist

Margaret Omole - Occupational Therapist

Hannah Wylie - Physiotherapist

Kirsten Miller - Physiotherapist

Mental Health

Maria Bromage - Cognitive Behavioural Therapist

Wellbeing for Life

Julie Form - Wellbeing for Life Manager

Diane Taylor - Health Trainer

General Long COVID Resources

Your COVID Recovery Website https://www.yourcovidrecovery.nhs.uk/ - NHS website to support recovery of Long COVID

Homerton University Hospital. ACERS: Post COVID-19 patient information pack. Post-COVID-19-information-pack-5.pdf (hackneycitizen.co.uk) - General information around various aspects of Long COVID

COVID-19 recovery Collective Https://covid19-recovery.org - a UK based site including patient stories and a resource librar y

Support for older people  Older People - Knowledge and Library Services - a list of links and resources to support older people following COVID 19

Support for Anosmia (or loss or change in smell)

Support for loss or change in smell and/or taste. https://www.fifthsense.org.uk/about-fifth-sense/-

Smell retraining post-COVID. https://abscent.org/nosewell

Managing Fatigue

Newcastle NHS site on managing fatigue https://covid19-recovery.org/deal/managing-fatigue-cresta-clinic-awrc/

Royal college occupational therapy site for managing fatigue post-COVID Recovering from COVID-19: Post viral-fatigue and conserving energy - RCOT -

Practical tips to help manage fatigue, including pacing

Managing your recovery from COVID-19 related fatigue https://www.shu.ac.uk/-/media/home/research/awrc/booklet-v9-30_09 - Information to help understand fatigue, recognise triggers and management strategies

Moving Medicine tips for recovery MM Covid Recovery Tips Leaflet (movingmedicine.ac.uk) - Useful bitesize information for managing symptoms following COVID 19

World Health Organisation - Self Management following COVID - Support for Rehabilitation Self-Management after COVID-19-Related Illness (who.int) - information for recovering from COVID following a hospital stay

Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. COVID-19: The road to recovery activity planner.  https://www.csp.org.uk/system/files/documents/2020-06/001751_covid19-the_road_to_recovery_activity_planner_v3.pdf - Activity planner for return to work

Sleep:

Information to help understand insomnia and sleep disturbance - https://www.nhs.conditions/insomnia Information

Resource to understand sleep disturbance and tiredness - https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sleep-and-tiredness

Understanding sleep disturbance and management strategies - https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/sleep

Return to work guidance:

Support for workers returning to the workplace post-COVID https://www.som.org.uk/covid-19-return-work-guide-recovering-workers

Advice for managers supporting staff returning to work post-COVID https://www.som.org.uk/covid-19-return-work-guide-managers

Short videos created by OT/Physio team in Derby. Can be really helpful when considering return to work

Managing COVID related symptoms during sickness absence: https://youtu.be/3fHeLbDo40U

Return to work rehabilitation: https://youtu.be/29KcxHJb4qU

Managing ongoing COVID related symptoms in the workplace: https://youtu.be/JNUBmWJgFms

Supporting staff with ongoing COVID related symptoms to return to work: advice for managers: https://youtu.be/bryRdjlzqRM

Royal College of Occupational Therapy - Managing well at work guide. https://www.rcot.co.uk/file/4118/download?token=_TU_3nYa

Breathing and Breathlessness

Asthma UK and British Lung Foundation. Long COVID | British Lung Foundation (blf.org.uk) - support with breathing and managing breathlessness

PhysioforBPD information leaflets. https://www.physiotherapyforbpd.org.uk/self-help/#leaflets - A range of leaflets including a guide to good breathing and post COVID breathing

PhysioforBPD understanding breathing videos. https://www.physiotherapyforbpd.org.uk/self-help/#videos - Videos as a guide to good breathing in lying, sitting and standing

Nutrition:

British Dietetic association -nutritional advice regarding coronavirus https://www.bda.uk.com/resource/covid-19-corona-virus-advice-for-the-general-public.html

NHS Change for Life - general dietary advice https://www.nhs.uk/change4life

Information related to diet and food choices. https://food-guide.canada.ca/en/ Information regarding benefits of plant based diet https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/factsheets

Social and financial support:

Citizens Advice Bureau. Helping people through the COVID-19 pandemic. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/coronavirus-if-youre-worried-about-working/

Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS). Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for employers and employees. https://www.acas.org.uk/coronavirus

Carers UK. Coronavirus guidance. https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-covid-19

Social Care Institute for Excellence. Supporting people who are isolated or at risk during the COVID-19 crisis. https://www.scie.org.uk/care-providers/coronavirus-covid-19/support-for-isolated

Faith organisations:

Church of England coronavirus and faith https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-churches

Methodist coronavirus site https://www.methodist.org.uk/about-us/coronavirus/

Catholic coronavirus site https://www.cbcew.org.uk/home/our-work/health-social-care/coronavirus-guidelines/

Sikh Helpline. Coronavirus update. https://www.sikhhelpline.com/coronavirus/

Jewish Care. Online and local resource library. https://www.jewishcare.org/informationduringcovid

Muslim Council of Britain. COVID-19 guidance for Muslim communities. https://mcb.org.uk/resources/coronavirus/

Ethnic organisations:

Ubele. COVID-19 resource page for African diaspora communities. https://www.ubele.org

Greater Manchester Centre for Voluntary Organisation. Support and resources for BAME Communities. https://www.gmcvo.org.uk/Coronavirus/BAMESupport