Long COVID resources

Information for the public and patients:

Social media:

You may like to schedule these posts from your owned accounts:

1. As you find yourself recovering from #COVID19, you may still be coming to terms with the impact the virus has had on both your body & mind. @NHSinBlkCountry have compiled a list of resources and helpful tips for understanding and recovering from the long-term effects of the virus: https://blackcountry.icb.nhs.uk/your-health/health-advice/coronavirus/long-term-effects-covid #LongCOVID
2. While #COVID symptoms tend to pass quickly for most, there are some who continue to experience long term effects beyond the initial illness – this is known as Long COVID. Visit @NHSinBlkCountry for local help and support: https://blackcountry.icb.nhs.uk/your-health/health-advice/coronavirus/long-term-effects-covid #LongCOVID
3. Long COVID can happen to anyone who has had COVID-19, even if the illness was mild, or they had no symptoms. Resources and tips on your recovery is available from @NHSinBlkCountry https://blackcountry.icb.nhs.uk/your-health/health-advice/coronavirus/long-term-effects-covid #LongCOVID

Videos:

• A video to highlight awareness of long COVID and tips on managing symptoms can be viewed:

  • Long COVID video with subtitles

  • Long COVID video - BSL - with subtitles

Printable advice sheet:

Advice sheets are now available in alternative languages as well as English. Please click the links below to download in the required language:

• English
• Easy Read
• Bengali
• Polish
• Punjabi
• Somali
• Urdu

Information for clinicians

Educational materials:

This information was taken from: https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/post-covid-syndrome-long-covid/The following is a list of resources that have been developed to help clinicians adapt to and learn about Long COVID.

• The Royal College of General Practitioner’s (RCGP’s) response and top tips for caring for our patients: Management of the long term effects of COVID-19

• Patient safety learning and RCGP resource: Post COVID-19 syndrome: what support can patients expect from their GP?

• Health Education England (HEE) e-learning modules: long COVID programme

• National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) resources: Living with COVID-19 and Living with COVID-19 – second review

• The Faculty of Occupational Medicine: guidance for return to work for patients with long-COVID

• COVID-19 rapid guideline: managing the long-term effects of COVID-19 – developed jointly by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) and the RCGP

Referral pathway:

As per NICE/SIGN/RCGP guidance, ‘Long COVID’ is a commonly used term to describe:

• Ongoing symptomatic COVID-19: signs and symptoms of COVID-19 from 4 to 12weeks;
• Post-COVID-19 syndrome: signs and symptoms that develop during or after COVID-19 and continue for more than 12 weeks and are not explained by an alternative diagnosis

General practice plays a key role in supporting patients, both adults and children, with long term symptoms of COVID-19. This includes assessing, diagnosing, referring where necessary and longer-term holistic support of patients. These are all part of the essential services provided by practices to their patients. If a patient needs support to manage their condition at home, there is an advice sheet (available in different languages) with exercises to support breathlessness, aches and pains and mental health – download it here. These can be printed and given to patients. If the patient needs a referral, there are clinics available in:

• Dudley
• Sandwell
• Walsall
• Wolverhampton

Clinics are evolving and new services are being added/changed regularly. Please check your clinical systems for up to date referral pathways and referral templates. All services are also offering virtual appointments for phone or video consultations