People on the Isle of Wight dealing with the effects of Long COVID are being supported by a new service launched by the NHS.
This vital service has been launched following emerging evidence that some people who contract COVID-19 are left with longer-term effects of the virus months after initially falling ill.
The symptoms are wide-ranging and fluctuating and can include pain, a persistent high temperature, breathlessness, chronic fatigue, brain fog, anxiety and stress.
However, many patients recover with support, rest, symptomatic treatment, and with a gradual increase in physical activity.
The Long COVID service is available by GP referral only and appointments will be available both face-to-face and virtually.
People will be able to access existing services that will aid their recovery.
When referred into the Long COVID service, patients will undergo a number of physical and psychological assessments. Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) will then work alongside other health teams to develop a support plan that will help improve their health outcomes and quality of life.
Patients will also have access to the ‘living with covid’ app, offering patients education, support and encouragement while they recover at home.
Dr Michele Legg, GP and clinical chair of NHS Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group, said:
“We are delighted to be working with our NHS colleagues to deliver this service and support those who are experiencing the symptoms of Long COVID.
“While we have learned lots about Covid-19, we are still yet to learn more about its long-term effects that we know can be debilitating, even for young, fit people, or those who did not go to hospital.
“This new service not only gives us an opportunity to support those in need, but will also help us learn out more about Long COVID and find new ways to help people affected by it.
“It also demonstrates that the NHS is not forgetting about patients who are dealing with the longer-term effects of the virus. We are here to support you.”
The service is part of a £10million initiative by NHS England who is funding 69 services across the country.
Maggie Oldham, Chief Executive at Isle of Wight NHS Trust, said:
“We are learning about the impact of the virus all the time but it is clear that many people are suffering long term effects and need our support.
“This new service will make sure people get the help they need and will link closely to well-established health services to meet the needs of individual patients.
“We are totally committed to supporting our community through the pandemic and this service is another important step in our recovery from Covid-19. I want to say thank you to all the teams involved in helping set up this service.”
Anyone experiencing the symptoms of Long COVID are advised to visit https://www.yourcovidrecovery.nhs.uk/ for more information. If symptoms persist, you should contact your GP.
I wish all these people a speedy recovery glad there getting help. But can someone tell the elderly people out there shopping just because they have had a jab social distancing is still in place, there walking around supermarkets like nothing wrong leaning over you next to you ohhhhh. I like to get in the shop and out not dither over the price of eggs, KEEP YOUR DISTANCE we all care. Your not immune from covid because of the jab. Think of others like you tell the young if it wasn’t for them we would not be here
Iv got brain fog and still getting bad headaches
I all so can’t be bothered to do much any more I feel like just need to sleep
I really hope this goes away
OTW, yet are you suffering any symptoms that many of the people who have not, at least knowingly, suffered CV have?
For many of us are deeply worried, frightened of the future, not just catching CV but for the jobs, the real damage that having a small nation, filled with millions of extra people, with no hope of jobs as poverty, and hi-tech removes many vacancies, yet the population grows ever larger with huge family type filling the UK.
We witness crime growing already, and will do so more, as what can’t be ‘earnt’ or given, will be ‘taken’ by desperate people, further ruining lives as cars, homes, and even people are used by such people to gain what they ‘want’, whatever the cost to others.
The local authority build vast amounts of more homes, but many will not be for local people and as more people arrive with no love, no care, no history, to this Island, then such are ripe to add to the anti social behaviour and crimes here, as to them, it is ‘just’ a place to live, and the people easy prey, compared to street wise ex-residents where such lived before.
Police here are ill equipped to deal with such, as are our medical services, and roads.
Hence the disgust at the local authority in allowing such, to further feather their nest, yet at the expense of all those not on the pay roll.
So, I don’t know how much of your very real ‘feelings’ are due to having had CV, or as many of us feel, the ‘new future’ here now.
I hope life improves for you, whichever.