Stockport NHS Foundation Trust have set up a new specialist community clinic to support patients who have ongoing symptoms associated with COVID-19.

The ‘Long-COVID’ clinic is based at Romiley Health Centre, and provides both face-to-face and virtual assessment and support from clinical professionals who specialise in treating a wide variety of symptoms.

Research is still ongoing on why some people suffer more long term effects from COVID-19 than others. While the majority of those with the infection will have fully recovered within 12 weeks, a minority have ongoing symptoms which can include a combination of heavy fatigue, shortness of breath, and losing fitness and muscle tone, as well as others.

The new clinic includes a number of clinicians who specialise in the presentations associated with ‘Long-COVID’. They are there to provide ongoing additional specialist support and assessment for these patients, providing support in areas such as respiratory and fatigue techniques, advice on self management, and support with returning to work or education. 

The team is made up of a number of clinicians who specialise in the symptoms associated with ‘Long-COVID’. Patients are referred on the clinic from acute, community and primary care services. Patients are usually offered an initial telephone assessment, although if they are unable to access a telephone assessment, a first face to face appointment will be offered. At this appointment they can discuss with the clinician whether clinic appointments are accessible or if continued telephone appointments or video calls are an option. Home visits would also be an option in exceptional circumstances. Other areas of Greater Manchester also have similar clinics in place. 

Andrew Loughney, Medical Director for Stockport NHS Foundation Trust said “COVID-19 is a relatively new infection and medical science is discovering more about it all the time. We’re still not sure why some people who have had COVID-19 suffer long term symptoms but there is no doubt that there is a real need for this new clinic. We’re proud to be able to provide the service so that people suffering from Long-COVID can access the specialised care that they need.”