Improving access to support for Long Covid patients

Healthwatch Barking & Dagenham, Redbridge, Havering and North East London Foundation Trust Long Covid service collaborated to research the experience of local people who have Post-Covid-19. The report was produced in partnership with the Long Covid Clinic at King George Hospital (jointly managed between Barking Havering and Redbridge University Hospital NHS trust (BHRUT) and North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT) and with primary care and community stakeholders within NHS North East London.

For some people, symptoms can last longer, following infection with Covid-19. This is called long COVID or post COVID-19 syndrome This research has investigated residents` access to support and what helped. Feedback was collected via surveys, interviews and focus groups with service users, GPs and service leaders. Research findings revealed that some people found their symptoms were limiting their quality of life and accessing specialist support was difficult. However, once support was provided, people felt they were able to better manage the post COVID-19 syndrome.

These findings have been shared with GPs across North East London and have been published on the website of the NHS Integrated Care Board. Study outcomes will support the people designing and delivering services to better understand the experience of service users who have Long Covid. These outcomes have also given support to people designing patient information material to increase awareness of the specialist clinic at King George Hospital. As a result, the referral process has been simplified and the number of patients receiving support has increased.

To access the report, please press on the link and download the document: