Help for patients as long-Covid clinics are launched
All adults discharged from Walsall Manor Hospital with Covid-19 will receive a booklet outlining measures that can be taken to ease symptoms and contacts for other sources of help, as clinics for people with long-term symptoms have launched.
Patients across the borough who are suffering with the long term effects of coronavirus will be offered specialist follow-up advice and support as part of a new service being rolled out by the Walsall Together Partnership.
It comes after it was revealed assessment centres, based at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust and Birmingham Community Healthcare Trust are taking referrals from GPs for people experiencing brain fog, anxiety, depression, breathlessness, fatigue and other debilitating symptoms.
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The patients leaving Walsall's hospital will also receive a follow-up call from a trained professional who will identify any ongoing problems which need specific treatments, including psychological support and if required a face-to-face assessment or virtual support and rehabilitation.
Simon Harlin, a GP working with community services, said: “We know that around five to 10 per cent of people who recover from Covid will experience long-Covid.
“This is when some symptoms can last beyond 12 weeks - for example breathlessness, fatigue, and psychological problems. However it isn’t just the health effects people struggle with it can also be issues related to social support, housing and employment too.
“As a partnership, Walsall Together has worked closely on planning ways in which we can identify and offer support to those who need it to ensure they make as full a recovery as possible.”
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust is one of eight trusts in the Midlands to benefit from funding from NHS England in order to roll out a post-Covid service to patients.
It is hoped this service will be rolled out in the next two to three weeks and will be extended to all people of any age who are recovering, even if they weren’t admitted to hospital.
