Lifting the long Covid fog

Since launching in November 2021, the Hounslow and Richmond Community Healthcare’s Long Covid Service, which brings together staff from community, primary care, respiratory and Richmond Wellbeing Services, has helped 75 people from Kingston and Richmond.  

Patients have their therapy in the best place for them – either as an outpatient at Richmond Rehabilitation Unit, in an online video call or telephone consultation, or at home.

Service lead and occupational therapist Roisin Hyde says: “We support people who struggle to carry out everyday activities because of the after-effects of Covid-19.

“Long Covid symptoms are wide ranging and can come and go. They include severe fatigue, breathlessness, headaches, muscle aches, brain fog and heart rate changes.”

People get help with managing their symptoms, learning how to cope when the brain isn’t processing properly, getting the right amount of rest, and increasing chances of recovery. The team also give advice on self-care, sleep, diet, mood, work, exercise and other activities. Patients start with an initial assessment and personalised plan to address their main concerns and goals. Treatment is one to one and in a group.

These Fridays are always rays of hope for me that something is finally changing.”

One grateful patient wrote to say thank you to Roisin: “the way you’re listening and caring for us is excellent and I can say that this way of care is something which I have never experienced. If you didn’t create such a safe environment for us, I doubt I would have been able to speak openly about how I felt. These Fridays are always rays of hope for me that something is finally changing for us. I just wish everybody was like you.”