What is Long COVID?

Long COVID describes a set of symptoms that continue long after the initial COVID-19 infection has gone. Long COVID is not just about people taking time to recover from a stay in intensive care. Even people who had relatively moderate COVID-19 at the time can experience long COVID symptoms.

Doctors are in the early stages of understanding this condition and there are a variety of different symptoms affecting many parts of the body. There is no medical definition or list of symptoms shared by all patients - two people with long COVID can have very different experiences.

Symptoms can include: fatigue, breathlessness, a cough that won't go away, joint pain, muscle aches, hearing and eyesight problems, headaches, loss of smell and taste as well as damage to the heart, lungs, kidneys and gut. Mental health problems have also been reported including depression, anxiety and struggling to think clearly.

Many of the symptoms above could be caused by other conditions, which medical professionals would expect to investigate and rule out first.

Recovery time from COVID-19 is different for everyone, but for many people symptoms will resolve by 12 weeks. In addition to recovery time, the problems that people can experience can vary too. If new or ongoing symptoms occur they can change unpredictably, affecting patients in different ways at different times.

If you want help or are uncertain, rather than leave things, please contact NHS 111, your hospital team or your local GP surgery to discuss your situation.

Humber Long COVID Triage and Assessment Service

Most patients with ongoing symptoms following COVID-19 will come under the care of their GPs, where self-management will be encouraged and supported while other causes of the symptoms are explored, and ruled out first, for up to 12 weeks.

If you live in the Humber area, which includes Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire, a  service is available for patients visiting their GP with ongoing symptoms consistent with post-COVID syndrome.

Your GP will be able to refer you, if appropriate, to the new service which is for people with suspected Post-COVID-19 syndrome, when symptoms have not resolved after 12 weeks.

The service will have specialist clinical input including respiratory, geriatric, rehabilitation, mental health, therapies and others. The clinical team will review each patient’s needs and will follow up with recommendations on the most appropriate support and rehabilitation to manage ongoing care.

The team will make a decision on an appropriate treatment plan and/or onward referral to other specialist services and will let you and your GP know of the recommendation.

NEW: Read about what to expect before, during and after a referral to the Humber Long COVID Triage and Assessment Service by your GP in our print-friendly leaflet here.

NEW: Watch the short animated film about your patient journey here:

NEW: We have also produced a 22-page Post-COVID Patient Information Pack to help your recovery after Covid that contains exercises for breathing, managing your cough, coping with post COVID-19 fatigue and other impacts of the virus.

NEW: Free or low-cost 12-week rehabilitation programmes for Long COVID (via GP referral) in the Humber area

Nuffield Health Hull Fitness and Wellbeing Centre, Kingston Park, Hull HU1 2TX

A new, free rehabilitation programme is provided by Nuffield Health for people in the Humber region. The programme offers patients a blended approach of both physical and emotional wellbeing support to tackle the symptoms commonly associated with Long COVID. These include:

• Fatigue, muscle pain and weakness
• Shortness of breath
• Anxiety and low mood
• Memory loss
• Sleep problems
• Generally, not being able to do the activities or return to the lifestyle pre-illness.

The 12-week programme is designed by respiratory experts, physiotherapists, emotional wellbeing clinicians and clinical exercise specialists, tailoring the needs of the individual patient in a symptom led approach, as well as focusing on their specific physical and emotional wellbeing goals.

Participants must be over the age of 18 years old, have access to the internet at home and have a formal diagnosis of Long COVID.

To find out more visit https://www.nuffieldhealth.com/about-us/our-impact/healthy-life/covid-19-rehabilitation-programme Participants will need to complete a formal triage assessment before referral to the programme.

East Riding Health and Wellbeing Centres

For people who live and/or work within the East Riding of Yorkshire, Nuffield Health offers a free-to-access 12-week programme blending physical therapy and mental health support.

Participants work with an East Riding fitness instructor for personalised advice and on a recovery plan, consisting of a six-week virtual programme of at-home exercises, before attending an East Riding Health and Wellbeing Centre for the remainder of the programme.

Participants will also receive access to on-demand workouts, weekly support calls and will be able to access peer support from others who have had similar experiences with the long-term effects of COVID-19.

This service is available via GP referral or referral from the Humber Long COVID Triage and Assessment Service.

For further details please visit the East Riding of Yorkshire website here.

Long COVID support in North East Lincolnshire

North East Lincolnshire Wellbeing Service is able to refer patients to Lincs Inspire which offers a FREE Long COVID Rehabilitation Programme. This programme is available in various venues across North East Lincolnshire and is suitable for people who have been experiencing mild Long COVID symptoms for 12 weeks or more, which could include:

• Fatigue, muscle pain and weakness
• Shortness of breath
• Anxiety and low mood
• Memory loss
• Sleep problems

Please see below for referral details.

FREE 24 session-12-week programme (exercise on referral) for people living in North East Lincolnshire

This holistic service for people living in North East Lincolnshire can offer support with low level mental health emotional/self-esteem/relationships and many other issues (as well signposting to services)

Participants will be allocated to a wellbeing worker to take them through an assessment and can refer them to exercise programme, if appropriate, to help manage many of the symptoms related to Long COVID.

The service is available through GP referral or self-referral via the contact details below and is free to people living in North East Lincolnshire. It also supports smoking cessation/Tier 2 weight management /mental health and many other health issues

How to get in touch North East Lincolnshire Wellbeing Service:

Phone :         01472 325500

Email:           LifestyleServicesTeam@nelincs.gov.uk

Twitter:         @livewellnel

Facebook:     www.facebook.com/livewellnel

Website        www.nelincs.gov.uk/health-and-wellbeing/

North Lincolnshire Active Exercise Referral Programme 

The NL Active Exercise Referral programme is designed to help people with health conditions develop the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to improve their health and wellbeing through one-to-one assessments, individually tailored activity plans, and ongoing support from your assigned Health and Wellbeing Assistant. Participants can be referred onto the Exercise Referral Pathway by a healthcare practitioner, or people can self-refer.

The Exercise Referral Programme is split into two phases, both 12-weeks long. Stage one costs £25, and stage two costs £50.

Please note that the North Lincolnshire exercise referral programme is not free, however the £25 fee for the 12 week programme includes unlimited use of many of the leisure centre facilities such as swimming, water wellbeing, Motiview access, gym, specific relevant classes with an activator as a mentor, coach and personal trainer to support recovery through a bespoke programme.

For more information contact referral@northlincs.gov.uk

Other useful resources:

• Long COVID peer support group for health, care and emergency services staff working across the Humber, Coast and Vale area
• A guide for managing post-viral fatigue (reproduced by kind permission of Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust
• Royal College of Occupational Therapists – Recovering from COVID-19: Post viral-fatigue and conserving energy provides practical advice for patients.
• Long Covid Support  is a peer support and advocacy group for people living with Long COVID
• The British Psychological Society website has useful tips, advice and links to articles for
• professionals and the public.
• MIND – information and tips to help individuals explore feelings about the pandemic