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Post-COVID Syndrome
Clinical Pathway

Provided Physiotherapies

Post-Covid: Point of Access

A wide range of services are in place to provide support for patients experiencing post-COVID syndrome. For ease, a dedicated Post COVID point of access has been established for Birmingham, and for Solihull. This is a multi-disciplinary assessment function that will facilitate the onward referral and management of patients with complex physical and/or mental health needs.

Post-COVID assessment clinics

Post-COVID assessment clinics are in place for those patients requiring further MDT assessment. These patients are more likely to have complex physical/mental health needs. Some may require therapeutic input, rehabilitation, psychological support, specialist investigation or treatment once they have been assessed at the clinic, and it is the responsibility of the clinic to refer patients on to existing services as needed.

Clinicians can make a referral into the post-assessment clinics for patients presenting with post-COVID syndrome symptoms via the Birmingham/Solihull Post COVID point of access (details above).

Clinical Pathway

A copy of the clinical pathway has been emailed directly to every GP in Birmingham and Solihull. If you require a copy, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Referral

Referral forms have been sent directly to practices and will be available on clinical systems soon. The address to send these referral forms to is:

  • Birmingham Post COVID Assessment Clinic: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • Solihull Post COVID Assessment Clinic: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Supporting self-management

Your COVID recovery

A new project to help rehabilitate thousands of patients across the UK who are recovering from COVID-19 has been launched by NHS England. The Your COVID recovery website is an online portal supporting recovery.

Your COVID Recovery will have two phases. Phase One (now launched) will enable patients and their carers to access further information about recovering post COVID-19. It will provide a holistic approach to health and wellbeing and include information on areas including mental health and wellbeing, physical strength and returning to work.

Phase Two is being developed specifically for patients with prolonged symptoms. These patients will have access to a face-to-face consultation with their local rehabilitation team and will be offered a personalised package of online-based care lasting up to 12 weeks. 

The programme will include:

  • A personalised package of care based upon individual symptoms, focusing upon what is important to the individual;
  • Access to a local clinical team, including nurses and physiotherapists who can respond online to enquiries from patients;
  • An online peer-support community for patients, which can be helpful for those who may be recovering alone at home;
  • A physical programme that people can undertake at home to help them regain their previous levels of fitness and muscle strength;
  • Mental health support, which will include advice on symptoms of low mood, frustration and problems with memory and thinking.

The content for the site, and clinical assurance of all content has been provided by an expert advisory group, with the support of patients and carers who have lived experience of COVID-19. Membership of the advisory group includes clinicians from cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation services, allied health professionals and psychological services, and members of the national respiratory working group and the national cardiac rehabilitation expert advisory group, of the national CVD-Respiratory programme.

When phase 2 is available for clinicians to refer patients to, we will share information about how to do so. 

The Long COVID Physio Podcast

Provided Physiotherapies

NICE
Guidelines

 

COVID-19 rapid guideline: managing the long-term effects of COVID-19 

This guideline covers identifying, assessing and managing the long-term effects of COVID-19, often described as ‘long COVID’. It makes recommendations about care in all healthcare settings for adults, children and young people who have new or ongoing symptoms 4 weeks or more after the start of acute COVID-19. It also includes advice on organising services for long COVID.

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