Long COVID Service

About the service

'Long COVID'  is a term used to describe symptoms that continue or develop after your initial infection of COVID-19. The Long COVID service aims to help people who are still experiencing these affects months after they have fallen ill.

The symptoms of Long COVID are wide-ranging and fluctuating and can include pain, 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.

What we do

Patients referred into the Long COVID service will receive a call to introduce the service, discuss their symptoms and agree an initial support plan. This may include enrolment on the Living With App (which provides information on symptom management), access to online educational videos, attendance at online education sessions and signposting to other sources of support. The next step will be a telephone or video appointment to assess physical, cognitive and psychological difficulties. Occasionally assessments are completed in clinic or at the patient’s home. The assessing health care professional who could be an Allied Health Professional (AHP) or nurse will then work alongside other health teams to develop a support plan that will help improve symptoms and quality of life

Accessing the service

The service is available by GP or consultant referral  and is available to anyone who is still experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 for more than 4 weeks following infection. Appointments may be by telephone, video call, clinic appointment or home visit depending on patient need. NHS staff can access the service through their employer’s occupational health department.

There are six Long COVID clinics across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Anyone experiencing Long COVID symptoms which persist are advised to contact their GP or healthcare professional to discuss referral.