New programme to help patients in Harrogate recover from "long Covid"

Healthcare professionals at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust have been rolling out a holistic programme of care to support patients in their recovery from “long Covid”.

Involving many different specialities across the Trust, the Post Covid Relief Programme aims to identify at an early stage any follow-up care that is required to help patients dealing with long-term symptoms following their illness.

The programme has also helped them identify new possible side effects, including tinnitus, loss of hair and poor eyesight.

Among the healthcare professionals involved in delivering the Programme are intensive care consultants, respiratory nurses, physiotherapists, occupational health therapists, speech & language therapists and dietitians.

The Programme was set up in June to follow up on patients admitted to Harrogate District Hospital with Covid-19 or suspected Covid-19 to ensure they could get the right support and advice in managing any effects including breathlessness, fatigue, muscular pain and anxiety.

It involves a thorough holistic telephone assessment, follow up chest x-ray and appropriate referrals onto therapies if required.

Respiratory nurse Johanna Nicholson has played an integral role setting up the programme.

She said: “We set up the Post Covid Relief Programme in a very tight timeframe to reassure patients and to make sure any long-term symptoms were being managed correctly.

“Recovering from coronavirus takes time and people can experience physical or psychological effects so it’s important to assess recovery from lots of different angles in order to give the best advice.

“The feedback we have received about the Programme has been really positive and the consultations have been very effective in supporting patients. This is a new disease that we are still learning about so it’s important we use all the resources and specialisms that are available to us across the Trust.”

Patient Andrew Cartlidge, aged 65, was admitted to Harrogate District Hospital at the end of March and was in hospital for five weeks with Covid-19 including a week in intensive care.

When he returned home, he experienced breathlessness and chest problems. He was assessed as part of the Post Covid Relief Programme and received follow-up home visits and a chest x-ray.

He said: “Looking back at having Covid, it was very frightening especially when you are suffering from an illness that, at the time, you don’t really know a great deal about.

“The care I received was fantastic. When I got home, I was still very weak and it was really helpful to get specialist advice from Jo about respiratory physio and have the follow-up care and chest x-ray.

“20 weeks later, I can walk two and a half miles!”

Intensive Care Consultant Dr Simon Holbrook, who has treated some of the most seriously ill patients with Covid-19, added: “Recovering after a period of time in intensive care is a gradual process and often patients feel breathless, fatigued and their muscles have weakened.

“The Post Covid Relief Programme has brought experienced clinicians from across the Trust to work together to support patients experiencing problems and who may need further specialist advice and care.

“As we look ahead to managing Covid in the coming weeks and months, it’s important that we have programmes like this in place to provide post Covid care.”