For some people, coronavirus (COVID-19) can cause symptoms that last weeks or months after the infection has gone. This is sometimes called post-COVID-19 syndrome or "long COVID".

This page highlights the support available for you.

If you would like to speak to a member of our personalised care team for support with Long Covid you can self-refer by emailing us at:

CAPCCG.meridiancare@nhs.net 

please state in your email that you are contacting us about the Long Covid support and ideally include details of which surgery you are registered at.

About long COVID

How long it takes to recover from COVID-19 is different for everybody. Many people feel better in a few days or weeks and most will make a full recovery within 12 weeks. But for some people, symptoms can last longer.

The chances of having long-term symptoms does not seem to be linked to how ill you are when you first get COVID-19. People who had mild symptoms at first can still have long-term problems.

Most infections with COVID resolve within the first 4 weeks. “Long COVID” is an informal term that is commonly used to describe signs and symptoms that continue or develop after an acute infection of COVID. Depending on how long you have ongoing symptoms for, it can be called one of 2 things:

• Ongoing symptomatic COVID This is where your symptoms continue for more than 4 weeks. If your symptoms last for longer than 12 weeks, it will then be called;
• Post-COVID Syndrome This is where your ongoing symptoms continue for longer than 12 weeks and cannot be explained by any other condition.

Symptoms of long COVID

Symptoms of Long Covid can be many and varied and can change over time. The most commonly reported symptoms include (but are not limited to) the following:

Respiratory and Cardiovascular Symptoms:

• Breathlessness
• Cough
• Chest tightness
• Chest pain
• Heart palpitations

Generalised symptoms:

• Extreme tiredness (fatigue)
• Fever
• Pain

Neurological Symptoms:

• Brain fog, loss of concentration or memory issues
• Headache
• Sleep disturbance (insomnia)
• Pins and needles or numbness
• Dizziness

Gastrointestinal symptoms:

• Abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Diarrhoea
• Loss of appetite and weight loss

Musculoskeletal symptoms:

• Joint pain
• Muscle pain

Ear, nose and throat symptoms:

• Tinnitus
• Earache
• Sore throat
• Loss of taste or smell

Psychological symptoms:

• Symptoms of depression
• Symptoms of anxiety

When to see your GP

If you are concerned about any of your symptoms and it has been four weeks or more since you became unwell with COVID, you can contact your GP and ask them about “long COVID”– they will usually offer you an initial consultation, provide access to any further assessments or care they determine that you need, and signpost you to sources of further support.

There are also other offers for support locally and nationally.

Online Support

There is NHS website with resources to support your recovery after Covid-19 https://www.yourcovidrecovery.nhs.uk/

As you recover from COVID-19 you may find there are ongoing symptoms affecting your body and mind. These changes should get better over time, some may take longer than others, but there are things you can do to help. This website is a useful starting point for your recovery.

Support Locally

Meridian Health Coaches – individual and group sessions available

Our Health Coaches work across our 6 practices to provide support for patients to manage long term health conditions and improve their wellbeing. They can work with patients as individuals or in groups, providing support to improve your health and wellbeing.

If you would like to speak to a member of our team about Long Covid you can self-refer by emailing us at CAPCCG.meridiancare@nhs.net please state in your email that you are contacting us about the Long Covid support and ideally include details of which surgery you are registered at.

Alternatively, if unable to email us, you can speak to your GP surgery team about a referral to our Health Coaches.

We are able to offer telephone, video or in person initial consultations to discuss your health and wellbeing. Our Health Coaches can to work with individual patients over up to 6 sessions to improve their health.

After your initial consultation we are also able to offer a monthly online group clinic, facilitated by our Health Coaches and supported by our GP lead Dr Vanessa Lockyer. We hope you will find this a useful opportunity to meet others living with Long Covid, share your experiences and learn together how to manage your health. There will be opportunity to ask questions and we can provide education and signposting to resources to help your recovery.

Long Covid Assessment service

If you self refer to our team, at the start of your assessment we will ask you to complete a screening questionnaire. Some symptoms might warrant further investigation, such as blood tests or x-rays. Some patients might be offered a referral to the hospital based Long Covid multidisciplinary recovery team for specialist input and advice.