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Showing results for tags 'Post-virus support'.
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News Article
£10m long Covid fund completely unspent after six months
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP today said the SNP/Green Government has “yet again let down long Covid sufferers” as it is revealed that not a single penny of the £10 million announced by ministers last September has been spent. On 9 September 2021, the Scottish Government announced the £10 million Long Covid Support Fund. Now a parliamentary question from Alex Cole-Hamilton and a freedom of information request have confirmed that the money remains entirely unspent. Alex Cole-Hamilton commented: “The latest official statistics showed a record are a record 119,000 long Covid sufferers in Scotland. The SNP/Green Government has let down every single one of them by failing to spend any of the £10 million it announced last September. “Time and again I have pressed Nicola Sturgeon for answers on the absence of long Covid clinics, pressed for automatic referrals and urged the rollout of in-home support for sufferers. Now we’ve learned that none of the money announced more than six months ago has been spent. “Long Covid sufferers need new hope. Scottish Liberal Democrats are determined to see the rollout of proper care. Read full story Source: Scottish Liberal Democrats, 27 March 2022 -
Content ArticleThis film from NHS England and NHS Improvement follows patients at the NHS specialist Post-Covid service at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary, one of 90 such services that are now established across England, as part of a £200m NHS investment to support people experiencing the long term effects of Covid. Featured in the film is John, who explains how the ongoing effects of Covid have impacted on his overall health and day-to-day life. As part of his assessment, John gets a psychological and physical check-up from a multidisciplinary team of NHS professionals to help him manage his symptoms and support his recovery. Anyone who is concerned about long-lasting symptoms following Covid-19 should contact their GP, or go online to the NHS Your Covid Recovery website for further advice: https://www.yourcovidrecovery.nhs.uk/
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Content ArticleLong Covid Support are keen to hear your experiences of Long Covid service(s) for adults in England. The purpose of this survey is to collect information on the patient experience of healthcare and other support services for Long Covid. Because services differ by nation, this survey is for patients in England only. This survey has been designed and developed by people who have Long Covid. You can do the survey for yourself, or on behalf of a friend or relative who has Long Covid. The survey will take 15 - 30 minutes to complete depending on your answers. You may save the survey and finish it later as long as you use the same device to complete it. Long Covid Support is a not-for-profit organisation, advocating for those impacted by Long Covid.
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Content ArticlePeople with COVID-19 often have symptoms in the long term (ie, long COVID), including fatigue, breathlessness, and neurocognitive difficulties. The disease mechanisms causing long COVID are unknown, and there are no evidence-based treatment options. Clinical guidelines focus on symptom management, and various treatment options are being evaluated. The scarcity of advice has often left people with long COVID feeling isolated and frustrated in their search for therapies. Research is needed to understand the self-management practices that are being used to manage long COVID symptoms; factors influencing their uptake; and the benefits, harms, and costs. There is also a need to assess the potential harmful effects of polypharmacy and drug–drug interactions in these individuals. The Therapies for Long COVID (TLC) Study (ISRCTN15674970) will begin to explore self-management practices through a survey of people with long COVID. This study aims to be a first step towards understanding this important and under-researched public health issue.
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Content ArticleLearn more about Long Covid and common symptoms like fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, post-exertional symptoms exacerbation, and orthostatic intolerance. Produced by Long COVID Physio. Long COVID Physio is an international peer support, education and advocacy, patient-led association of physiotherapists living with Long COVID and allies working internationally across advocacy, policy, guideline development and research.
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News Article
Scientists link ‘severe’ Covid-19 to long-term mental health problems
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
People who suffer from severe Covid-19 symptoms are more likely to have long-term mental health problems, a new study suggests. Higher rates of depression and anxiety have been found in people who were “bedridden” with Covid-19 for more than seven days last year, according to a study published in the Lancet. Scientists, drawing on data from 247,249 people across the UK, Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, found that people with coronavirus who were not admitted to hospital were more likely to experience symptoms of depression up to 16 months after diagnosis, compared to those never infected. However, over 16 months, patients who were bedridden for seven days or more were between 50 and 60% more likely to experience higher levels of depression and anxiety compared to people never infected during the study period, the researchers found. Overall, people diagnosed with Covid-19 had a higher prevalence of depression and poorer sleep quality compared with individuals who were never diagnosed – 20% of those in the former group experienced symptoms of depression, versus 11% in the latter group. Researchers suggested patients who spent longer in bed or had higher depression or anxiety rates could be suffering from ill health due to a combination of worrying about long-term health effects and Covid symptoms persisting. Patients with severe Covid often experience inflammation, which has previously been linked to chronic mental illness, particularly depression. Read full story Source: The Independent, 15 March 2022 -
Content ArticleHow is the UK handling long Covid, one of the biggest health issues to emerge from the pandemic? A panel of experts brought together by The Independent discussed this and the overall message was that the UK’s response has been lacking. Chaired by Health Correspondent Rebecca Thomas and Science Correspondent Samuel Lovett, the panel included Dr Elaine Maxwell, Professor Amitava Banerjee and Professor Brendan Delaney. The session explores the UK’s response in depth from research approaches to provision for patients. Watch back a video of the full event.
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News Article
USA: Covid long-haulers face grueling fights for disability benefits
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Deepa Singh, 30, of Louisville, USA, has been seriously ill for two years, racked with extreme fatigue, racing heartbeat and memory problems from Long covid that she says prevent her from working. Adding to her distress, she says, has been a grueling — and so far unsuccessful — battle for disability payments. Singh, who worked as a project manager, is among a cohort of Long Covid patients who have been denied disability benefits, either by private insurance companies, which operate benefit plans offered by employers, or by the Social Security Administration, which manages government disability benefits. Tasked with sorting legitimate health claims from fraudulent or marginal ones, these gatekeepers now face a novel challenge as the coronavirus pandemic drags on: a flood of claims citing a post-infection syndrome that is poorly understood by the medical community and difficult to measure. Patients cite a litany of symptoms that defy verification through basic medical tests. They become exhausted at the merest exertion. They can’t remember simple words. Their hearts feel like they are fluttering. Yet neurological exams, ECGs and chest X-rays come back clean. Doctors said in interviews they are treating Long Covid patients who are clearly too sick to work but who have difficulty meeting the evidence threshold insurers demand: objective medical test results showing an inability to perform work. Specialized tests can measure a few Long Covid-related problems, such as a central nervous system disorder called dysautonomia, which affects the body’s ability to regulate itself. But there are months-long waiting lists for the tests, doctors and patients said. The challenges are similar to those faced for years by people claiming disabilities based on chronic fatigue syndrome. But the pandemic has given rise to such claims on a far greater scale. Read full story (paywalled) Source: The Washington Post, 8 March 2022 -
Content ArticleMedical research is progressing to clarify the full range of sub-acute and long-term effects of post-COVID-19 syndrome (Long Covid), but most manuscripts published to date only analyse the effects in patients discharged from hospital, which may induce significant bias. This Spanish study in the journal Scientific Reports aimed to analyse the single and multiple associations between post-COVID-19 characteristics with up to six months of follow-up in hospitalised and non-hospitalised Covid-19 patients. Key findings include: At six months follow-up, fatigue, arthralgia, fever, breathlessness, emotional disturbance, depression, cognitive deficit, haemoglobin, total bilirubin, and ferritin are correlated with the gender of the patient Patients with previous respiratory diseases and abnormal body mass index, ex-smoker, and dyspnoea had a robust statistically significant association. Non-hospitalised patients may suffer more severe thromboembolic events and fatigue than hospitalised patients. Functional lung tests are good predictors of chest CT imaging abnormalities in elderly patients with Long Covid.
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Content ArticleWhat have we learned about the symptoms of Long COVID or Post COVID-19 condition so far? How long does it last, when should you worry, and what treatments are recommended? WHO’s Dr Janet Diaz explains in this video. Part of WHO's Science in 5 series.
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News ArticleToday the Government is expected to announce the end to all Covid restrictions, including ending self-isolation and free testing in the country. However, in an open letter to the UK's Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientific Officer, the UK science and medical communities say this is a "HUGE mistake". The open letter expresses concern about the Government plans to end testing, surveillance surveys and legal isolation of Covid-19 cases and asks the Government to clarify the scientific advice underpinning these policy decisions as they do not believe there is a solid scientific basis for the policy. "It is almost certain to increase the circulation of the virus and remove the visibility of emerging variants of concern." "The emergence of new variants and a resultant wave of infections can occur very quickly, potentially within just several weeks. The ability to rapidly detect and characterise new variants and to scale up necessary responses (such as TTI and vaccinations) quickly will be very important. Considerations for future response preparedness and surveillance infrastructure should take this into account." "We believe humanity is in a race against the virus." The letter goes on to say that some form of surveillance must be continued to ensure the situation is well understood and new variants of concern identified. Lack of testing is not only detrimental to controlling the spread of SARSCoV2 and detecting new variants, it also puts people who develop Long Covid at a great disadvantage by not having a confirmation of their infection, which is integral to the diagnosis, support and care they need to receive. For the 1 in 4 people in the UK who are clinically vulnerable, the current approach appears a perilous and politicised pandemic response. The authors of the letter are asking members of the UK science and medical communities to sign the open letter. Read the letter in full and sign here
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EventuntilThe UK may have now past the worse of the pandemic, but the burden of Long Covid is only going to intensify in the weeks and months ahead. Estimates suggest that well over a million people are suffering from the condition, nearly half of whom have struggled with persistent symptoms for at least a year. Many will have developed Long Covid after the recent Omicron wave, which fuelled millions of weekly infections over the Christmas period. Yet support and treatment for these individuals has been in short supply. The NHS’ dedicated long Covid clinics have struggled to cope with high demand from patients, who feel neglected and ignored by the health system. Some ‘long haulers,’ as they’re known, have come together to form support groups and have regularly petitioned the government for more help and recognition of their plight. Despite the many challenges that lie ahead, there is some hope on the horizon: scientists are starting to make progress in better understanding long Covid and closing in on some of the biggest questions surrounding the condition. To discuss all of these themes, join out expert panel hosted by The Independent's Health Correspondent Rebecca Thomas and Science Correspondent Samuel Lovett, with Dr Elaine Maxwell, Professor Amitava Banerjee and Professor Brendan Delaney. Register
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Content ArticlePersistent Covid-19 illness following an acute infection with SARS-CoV-2 can have both a physical and psychological impact. Pharmacists in community and primary care should be able to provide patients with appropriate advice and support to manage their symptoms.
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Content ArticleThis report from CIPD examines the latest evidence and the experiences of employees experiencing long COVID, and offers recommendations for organisations on how to effectively support those with long COVID to return to, and stay in, work.
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Content ArticleThis self-assessment tool has been developed by the British Lung Foundation for people with Long Covid symptoms. It aims to help patients identify and prioritise their needs, signposts them to further information and outlines the help they should get in dealing with Long Covid. It is anonymous and takes 5-10 minutes to complete. Patients can also print out their answers and share them with healthcare professionals an employers to clearly highlight an individual's needs.
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News Article
Long Covid: nearly 2m days lost in NHS staff absences in England
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
NHS trusts in England lost nearly 2m days in staff absences due to long Covid in the first 18 months of the pandemic, according to figures that reveal the hidden burden of ongoing illness in the health service. MPs on the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on coronavirus estimate that more than 1.82m days were lost to healthcare workers with long Covid from March 2020 to September 2021 across England’s 219 NHS trusts. The estimate is based on data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act from 70 NHS trusts and does not include the impact of the highly transmissible Omicron variant that has fulled record-breaking waves of infection in the UK and globally since it was first detected in November. Layla Moran, the Liberal Democrat MP who chairs the APPG, said the government had paid “almost no attention to long Covid and the severe impact it was having on vital public services” and called for immediate support for those affected. “Thousands of frontline workers are now living with an often debilitating condition after being exposed to the virus while protecting this country,” she said. “They cannot now be abandoned.” Read full story Source: The Guardian, 24 January 2022 -
Content Article'Support after Covid-19' is a series of short podcasts exploring Long Covid and work. It was developed by Professor Cathy Bulley and Dr Eleanor Curnow at Queen Margaret University in response to research insights from the ‘Support After Covid Study,’ which was carried out between May 2020 and June 2021. It focuses on the experiences of people working in health services who are living with Long Covid, offering resources, insight and advice.
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EventuntilThe next NHS England and NHS Improvement wellbeing community event, hosted by the People Directorate and facilitated by NHS Horizons will be focusing on: ‘Supporting our NHS People affected by Long Covid’ By joining this session, you will be able to take away information and guidelines on how to support the wellbeing of our NHS people who are affected by Long Covid. Register
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Content ArticleDecision makers should apply insights learnt from people living with chronic illness to collectively managing covid, says Charlotte Augst in this BMJ opinion article.
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Content ArticleSouth Wales pharmacist, Geraint Jones, contracted COVID-19 in April 2020. He shares an insight to his experiences over the last year after he was later diagnosed with Long Covid.
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Content ArticleIn this interview for Woman's Hour, Dr Nisreen Alwan, Associate Professor in Public Health at the University of Southampton, discusses the impact of Long Covid on her own life with presenter Emma Barnett. She also shares insights from research that suggests women, people of working age, people from areas of high social deprivation and frontline health and education workers are more likely to be affected by Long Covid. Dr Alwan talks about the need to manage Long Covid alongside daily activities and highlights new research that demonstrates that vaccines may reduce the incidence of the condition. The interview can be heard at 17:23-25:20 in the recording.
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News Article
UK survey suggests 1.3 million have Long Covid
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
About 1.3 million people in the UK have Long Covid symptoms lasting more than four weeks after an initial infection, an Office for National Statistics survey suggests. Of those, 892,000 (70%) first caught the virus at least 12 weeks ago and 506,000 (40%) at least a year ago. The survey asked nearly 352,000 people to record their own symptoms. There is no universally agreed definition of long Covid and different studies use varying definitions. The ONS survey, over four weeks in November and December 2021, suggests, of those with Long Covid: 51% have fatigue 37% have loss of smell 36% have shortness of breath 28% have difficulty concentrating. University of Exeter senior clinical lecturer Dr David Strain said: "The stark warning here is that, based on this, in the previous waves, over 800,000 people have their day-to-day activities significantly affected over three months after catching Covid and nearly a quarter of a million report this has a dramatic impact on their quality of life. "As we continue to see case numbers of Omicron rise, we must be wary that our reliance purely on hospitalisations and death as a measure of the risk from Covid could grossly underestimate the public-health impact of our current Covid strategy." Read full story Source: BBC News, 6 January 2022 -
Content ArticleIn this interview with the journal International Politics and Society, Brendan Delaney, professor at the Faculty of Medicine at Imperial College London discusses the impact of Long Covid on individuals and society. He describes his own experience of Long Covid, which rendered him unable to work for months, and highlights that we should not be surprised by the prevalence of Long Covid, as all epidemics result in long-term illness for many people. He draws attention to parts of the political system 'not believing in' Long Covid and highlights the damage caused by psychologising the condition. Finally, he points to the need for more research to better understand Long Covid symptoms.
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Content Article
Long Covid: The hidden iceberg of Covid-19
Dr Shruthi posted an article in Blogs
In the wake of new variants and the relentless spread of Covid-19, understanding the complex nature of Long Covid is crucial. In this article, I aim to present useful information on the risk factors, plausible pathophysiological mechanisms and treatment of Long Covid. The obscure nature of Long Covid is a conundrum both for doctors and patients. To mitigate the burden of Long Covid, early identification of disease signs, appropriate treatment and timely access to rehabilitation care is vital. I believe that strengthening the 4 Rs (Reporting, Recognition, Rehabilitation and Research) through close collaboration between government organisations, pharmaceutical industries, patients and health care providers could reduce the impact of Long Covid. -
News ArticleNearly two years into the pandemic, people like me are still out of action. We need better support and more funding, writes Joanna Herman, consultant in infectious diseases in London. Joanna caught Covid in March 2020, and was by definition a “mild” case: not admitted to hospital and no risk factors for severe disease, but how it has affected her and her family is anything but mild. Having been fit and active, Joanna now finds that on bad days that she still struggle with everyday chores, and her usually quick-firing brain "remains in slo-mo ('brain fog')". For many months, it has felt as though long Covid has not been on the political agenda, but many people are still struggling with their everyday lives, and struggling to get the help they need. Why is long Covid not included in the daily statistics, or as one of the main incentives to avoid Omicron, and to get a vaccine and booster jab? It’s never mentioned, and it often feels as if sufferers don’t exist. Even if the new variant results in milder disease than previous ones, could more people still end up like Joanna? And how will an already stretched NHS cope if there are new cases of long Covid after this current viral surge? There’s a lot we still don’t know about Omicron; a fuller picture will become evident over the coming weeks and months... Read full story Source: The Guardian, 22 December 2021
