Since June 2021 the number of people in England living with self-reported long COVID has grown from 700,000 to 1.6 million; 1 and 20% of those asked report significant limits on their activity.

Long COVID includes both ongoing symptomatic COVID-19 (4–12 weeks) and post COVID syndrome2 (12 weeks or more and are not explained by an alternative diagnosis), and can be a debilitating multi-system condition affecting an individual’s physical, psychological and cognitive health, their daily life and ability to work or attend education.

Across the South West, there are 10 Post Covid Assessment services accepting referrals for patients with long Covid signs and symptoms; one in each ICS (Integrated Care System) with four in Devon.

The Long Covid team within the CVDR Network, are responsible for ensuring the NHS plan for improving long COVID (updated in July 2022) supports future NHS service planning, assists continuous improvement in the quality of long COVID services and addresses the wide unwarranted variation in waiting times across England for these services to reduce health inequalities. It sets out further actions, which align with the Elective Recovery Plan and focus on:

• increasing capacity
• prioritising treatment
• transforming the way we provide care
• better information and support for patients

Long COVID Campaign

NHS England’s Long COVID team has launched a campaign across the South West to raise awareness of Long COVID and its symptoms. Over the summer there will be a poster campaign on bus shelters in West Somerset and Torbay and posters are being shared with workplaces and municipal buildings in those areas.

We would like to get the message out in the wider South West and would be grateful if you could share the poster below in ED’s, outpatient departments and GP surgeries. This will ensure that we are able to target all areas of Health inequalities including vulnerable and health inclusion groups, along with deprived or protected characteristics. Please also consider this for your Minor Injury units or community hospitals.

• Have you got Long COVID poster – A4

Hope Programme for Long COVID

Free Self-management Course to help you cope on your recovery from Long COVID.

Meet others in the same situation and try a range of interactive activities including goal setting, gratitude, mood, activity and symptoms tracking, journaling and online forums.

Book now www.h4c.org.uk/courses email: hope@h4c.org.uk or phone: 024 7736 0153