Long Covid service
Welcome to Barking & Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge Long COVID Service.
We provide holistic assessment and treatment programs to those who are experiencing ongoing symptom such as breathlessness, fatigue and brain fog for 12 weeks (about 3 months) or longer, after an acute COVID- 19 infection.
The Long COVID Team consists of;
- Administrators
- Care Coordinators (Nursing Staff)
- Physiotherapists
- Occupational Therapists
- Psychologists
- Psychology Assistants
- Volunteer Patient Representatives
A suite of information videos, including in Gujarati, Bengali and Urdu have been produced to support our communities get the support they need to help them recover from Long COVID. For these videos, please visit our Long COVID resources page.
What is Long COVID?
Post COVID Syndrome or Long COVID, is defined by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence as
“Signs and symptoms that develop during or after an infection consistent with COVID-19, continue for more than 12 weeks and are not explained by an alternative diagnosis.”
There are many signs and symptoms that can be attributed to Long COVID, these can vary significantly from person to person and the severity of which can fluctuate over time. They can include but are not limited to :
- Extreme tiredness (fatigue)
- Shortness of breath
- Muscle and joint pain
- Difficulty concentrating/memory loss/confusion (brain fog)
- Loss of smell or taste
- Headache
- Changes in sleep/difficulty sleeping
- Worry/anxiety
- Fast heart rate
You may find that your symptoms impact on your day-to-day activities, including the ability to work, resulting in a reduced quality of life. It is important that you get the support you need. We encourage anyone who thinks they may have Long COVID to speak to their GP.
What should I do if I think I have Long COVID?
We would encourage anyone who suspects they have Long COVID to visit their GP to be assessed.
Your GP will undertake a range of tests to see if your symptoms can be explained by any other illnesses or conditions. If these can be ruled out and you are aged 18 years or over, your GP may then refer you to our Long Covid Service. Please note: we only accept referrals from Barking & Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge GPs.
If your symptoms get worse, please call 111 for more advice or for a medical emergency dial 999 immediately.
You may find it helpful to take this leaflet with you in case your GP is not aware of the service we offer — Long COVID Services in Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge
What can I expect from the Long COVID Team?
Triage
Once received, your referral will be triaged by the Long COVID team and if accepted you will be offered an appointment for an initial assessment
Initial Assessment
A telephone or video consultation will be offered with one of our clinical staff.
Durning this appointment you can expect to have your signs and symptoms, needs and expectations explored, and treatment options discussed.
Intervention
Support for Long COVID Recovery depends on the individual symptoms you are experiencing and their impact on your daily life. The team will however aim to
- Help you understand your symptoms
- Empower you to self-manage your symptoms
- Monitor and adjust your activity levels according to your symptoms
- Reduce/avoid boom and bust cycle
- Identify and work towards goals
This will be done predominantly through the Online Foundations for Recovery Programme and is supported by the Living With App.
Treatment options
- Online Foundations of Recovery group programme.
- Enrolment onto the Living With COVID Recovery app.
- Pre-recorded information and self-help videos.
- One-to-one sessions with a Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist or a Psychological Therapist
- Signposting and/or referral onto other organisations and services such as: Yoga for Life, Social Prescription and Exercise on Referral.
The majority of this service is provided virtually via telephone calls, video consultations, online groups and supported by the ‘Living With’ App. Digital support is available and face-to-face appointments can be arranged for those that require it.