More clinics to open for long Covid victims

LONG Covid clinics will be opened in every area of England, the head of the NHS has pledged.

Sir Simon Stevens said people suffering from the long-term effects of a Covid-19 infection need a “clear front door” to know where they can get help.

The NHS has already opened 63 long Covid clinics. There will be 83 clinics open by the end of the month.

As he announced further investment in the clinics, Sir Simon said there will be “at least one” clinic in every local health area – also known as an integrated care system (ICS).

Figures suggest hundreds of thousands are still suffering several months after their first infection.

Speaking to a Health Service Journal leadership event, Sir Simon, chief executive of the NHS in England, said: “We want to make sure that the health service continues to expand its offer for long Covid.

“To that end we have 69 clinics identified last year, we will have 83 long Covid clinics in place by the end of this month, so a significant expansion there.

“There will be at least one service in every ICS area. We will be backing that with at least £24million earmarked revenue funding going into this new financial year, up from the £10 million which was announced last year, and there will be more to come.

“We’ve got to make sure that there’s a clear front door for people who need that assessment.”

Results from the latest Office for National Statistics coronavirus infection survey suggest more than 600,000 people in England experienced long Covid more than 12 weeks after the first suspected infection with Covid -19.

Common symptoms of long Covid include fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, problems with memory, insomnia, dizziness, pins and needles, joint pain, depression and anxiety, tinnitus, earache, stomach ache, loss of appetite, high temperature, cough, headaches, sore throat, changes to sense of smell or taste or skin rashes.