The Stockport NHS Foundation Trust has set up a new specialist community clinic to support patients with persistent symptoms related to COVID-19.
The Long COVID Clinic is located in the Romiley Health Center and offers both face-to-face and virtual assessments and support from clinicians who specialize in the management of a wide variety of symptoms.
Research is still underway as to why some people have longer-term effects from COVID-19 than others. While the majority of those infected have made a full recovery within 12 weeks, a minority have persistent symptoms, which can include any combination of excessive fatigue, shortness of breath, and loss of fitness and muscle tone, among others.
The new clinic includes a number of clinicians who specialize in the presentations related to “Long-COVID”. They are there to provide these patients with ongoing additional professional support and assessment by offering support in areas such as breathing and fatigue techniques, advice on self-management and support when returning to work or training.
The team consists of a number of clinicians who specialize in the symptoms of “Long COVID”. Patients are referred to the clinic from acute, community, and primary care. As a rule, patients are offered an initial examination by telephone. However, if they do not have access to a telephone examination, an initial personal appointment will be offered. At this appointment, you can discuss with the clinician whether clinic appointments are available or whether telephone appointments or video calls are still possible. In exceptional cases, home visits would also be possible. There are similar clinics in other areas of Greater Manchester.
Andrew Loughney, Medical Director of the Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, said, “COVID-19 is a relatively new infection and medical science is discovering more about it all the time. We’re still not sure why some people who have had COVID-19 have long-term symptoms, but there is no doubt that this new clinic is really needed. We are proud to offer this service so that people suffering from Long Covid have access to the specialized care they need. “
