Patients with long Covid are facing a postcode lottery across the UK when it comes to getting care, nurses say.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said treatment varied hugely with some services treating it as a physical condition, but others as psychological.
The union also highlighted long waits in parts of England, which has a network of specialist clinics. It warned that patients in Scotland and Wales may be missing out because of a lack of dedicated clinics.
Speaking at the RCN's conference in Glasgow, nurses said they had seen first-hand how debilitating the symptoms could be.
Nearly half of patients referred to specialist services are aged 35 to 54.
Jo Strucke, a mental health nurse who works in a specialist service in Yorkshire, said: "Some of our patients have really complex physical health problems and their lives have been transformed.
"They may be unable to work, socialise and do things they previously enjoyed."
Helen Donovan, the RCN's public health lead, added: "As nursing staff we see first-hand how life-limiting long Covid can be."
But she said: "There aren't enough specialist services to meet growing demand and the help patients get varies hugely across the country."
Source: BBC News, 7 June 2022
Recommended Comments
Create an account or sign in to comment