‘Pioneering’ Long Covid treatment helps more than 500 people

More than 500 people suffering with Long Covid have received help from a “pioneering” post-Covid service.

One patient, 56-year-old Justine Walsh, who lives in Groom Crescent, Earlsfield, had been living with Long Covid for months.

After visiting her GP and having tests to rule out other possible causes of her symptoms, she was referred to the NHS Wandsworth and Merton Post Covid Assessment Clinic last September.

The service, which is therapy-led and medically supported in the community rather than in a hospital-setting, offers support with fatigue management, breathlessness, self-management advice on sleep, physical activity and diet, and psychological support to cope with the effects of the illness.

It offers patients a “holistic service” closer to home with input from physiotherapists, occupational therapists and rehabilitation assistants.

Justine said: “I caught Covid just after Christmas 2021, but it wasn’t until May 2022 that my symptoms like joint pain, migraines and fatigue became too much, and I had to stop working.”

Prior to Long Covid, the fit and active mother-of-two enjoyed exercising regularly and spending time with her two school-aged children.

“Before Covid, I had a very active lifestyle,” said Justine. I worked full-time as a project manager and would cycle to work every day in central London. I had a busy social life and was always doing something. But when I got Long Covid, that all changed.”

Since the post-Covid service launched in April 2021, it has supported 515 patients, and 94 per cent of service users who provided feedback in 2022 rated the service as good or very good.

Justine said: “The service supported me to manage fatigue and energy levels.

“There are things I used to take for granted, like going for a walk, that I was suddenly struggling with.

“The service helped me to accept my condition and build up my daily activities gradually, getting back into healthy routines.”

Long Covid can affect individuals in a number of ways, including physically, socially and psychologically.

Vladimira Kalev, Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist at the Wandsworth and Merton Post Covid Assessment Service, said: “The average age of our patients is 44, with most already juggling severe symptoms, childcare responsibilities and work.

“So far, we’ve had a lot of positive feedback from our patients, many of whom are pleased they can complete the programme virtually, meaning they get human connection without the physical aspect of travelling to a clinic.”

Common symptoms of Long Covid include fatigue, breathlessness, headaches, dizziness, and deterioration in mental health, and many people experience multiple symptoms.

Pictured top: Wandsworth resident Justine Walsh (Picture: Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust)