Help at more than 60 clinics for long Covid patients

NHS England has announced that thousands of patients suffering with the long term symptoms of coronavirus can now access specialist help at more than 60 sites.

NHS England has provided £10 million for the network of clinics, which started opening last month. There are now 69 operating across the country with hundreds of patients already getting help. The assessment centres, which bring together doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists, are taking referrals from GPs for people experiencing brain fog, anxiety, depression, breathlessness, fatigue and other debilitating symptoms.

One in five people with coronavirus develop longer term symptoms, with the Office for National Statistics finding that around 186,000 people suffer problems for up to 12 weeks.

Ten sites are now operational in London, seven in the East of England, eight in the Midlands, South East and South West respectively, nine in the North West and a further 18 across the North East and Yorkshire. A further 12 sites are earmarked to launch in January in the East Midlands, Lancashire, Cornwall and Isle of Wight.

Simon Stevens, NHS chief executive, said: “The NHS is taking practical action to help patients suffering ongoing health issues as a result of coronavirus. Bringing expert clinicians together in these clinics will deliver an integrated approach to support patients access vital rehabilitation, as well as helping develop a greater understanding of long covid and its debilitating symptoms.”