CSP welcomes network of 'Long Covid' clinics

A network of more than 40  clinics across England is due to start opening at the end of this month, following a £10million investment from NHS England.

Teams of medical professionals including doctors, nurses, therapists and other NHS staff will carry out physical and psychological assessments of those experiencing enduring symptoms.

CSP chief executive Karen Middleton said: ‘Long Covid is having a devastating impact on growing numbers of people so we welcome the essential support these clinics will provide.

‘It’s encouraging to see they will feature a wide range of professions and the physiotherapy workforce will contribute important expertise on critical matters such as dealing with breathlessness and identifying appropriate levels of physical activity.

‘The clinics will also help further our understanding of this developing condition. For example, we are finding that people are not recovering in a linear fashion but often deteriorating, experiencing a return of distressing early symptoms of the disease.

‘But while the clinics will offer important assessment, diagnosis and signposting, it’s critical that they are backed up by significant investment in community rehabilitation services to help people recover from Covid.

This requires appropriate levels of staffing, over and above what is required to deal with the already unmet levels of need for services that exist among people with other health conditions

‘That’s why we need a national strategy to ensure everyone who needs rehabilitation – whether for Covid or other health conditions – has access to high quality services where they live.’