'Long Covid' clinics opening in North Yorkshire

They will be located in Harrogate and York.

Dr McMahon expressed his condolences to people who lost loved ones during the pandemic
Author: Harry LongPublished 18th Dec 2020

Patients suffering from "long Covid" will be able to get help at specialist clinics in Harrogate and York.

They're two of 69 sites opening across England.

The centres are taking referrals from GPs for people experiencing brain fog, anxiety, depression, breathlessness, fatigue - and other symptoms.

NHS England has provided £10 million for the network of clinics, which started opening last month.

New research has shown one in five people with coronavirus develop longer term symptoms. Around 186,000 people suffer problems for up to 12 weeks, the Office for National Statistics found.

The new centres bring together doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists to offer both physical and psychological assessments and refer patients to the right treatment and rehabilitation services.

Patients can access services if they are referred by a GP or another healthcare professional, so that doctors can first rule out other possible underlying causes for symptoms.

Sir Simon Stevens, NHS chief executive, said: “The NHS is taking practical action to help patients suffering ongoing health issues as a result of coronavirus. Bringing expert clinicians together in these clinics will deliver an integrated approach to support patients access vital rehabilitation, as well as helping develop a greater understanding of long covid and its debilitating symptoms.

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