The media spotlight has several stories now of #LongCovid, including the moving film by LongCovidSOS. An estimated quarter of a million people in the UK with debilitating symptoms post Covid. The Covid Symptom Tracker App has over 4 million subscribers and continues to collect vital data on long term symptoms. The virus is not yet understood, answers will take time. Will I ever get better? Is there permanent damage? How do I talk to my doctor about this to get the support and rehabilitation I need? What if I have no proof I’ve had Covid and no one believes me? Is there something seriously wrong? How do I explain to my family or my employer? What are the solutions I need to manage with this long term?
At the Covid 19 Recovery Collective we have been busy helping raise awareness of #LongCovid, with Jane’s article in the Yorkshire Post , Jane talking to Radio Leeds on 14th July, Radio Sheffield later on the same day. And on the 28th July Sophie, Jayney and Jane, who have all submitted their stories to our site were interviewed by Hannah Gray on BBC Look North .
The Government in the UK, and the World Health Organisation have officially recognised #LongCovid and the potential of prolonged symptoms from Covid19. On the 29th July the NHS launched its Your Covid Recovery website. Post Covid clinics are popping up all over the UK and patients are helping shape these services with the stories being published on this site. I have been involved in helping shape the post Covid services in Sheffield and surrounding areas and your stories are being heard. Trish Greenhalgh, Professor of Primary Care at the University of Oxford is working on publishing guidelines for GPs for #LongCovid.