
Welcome to Barking & Dagenham, Havering, Redbridge and Waltham Forest Long COVID Service.
We provide holistic assessment and treatment programs to those who are experiencing ongoing symptom such as breathlessness, fatigue and brain fog for 12 weeks (about 3 months) or longer, after an acute COVID-19 infection.
The Long COVID Team consists of;
A suite of information videos, including in Gujarati, Bengali and Urdu have been produced to support our communities get the support they need to help them recover from Long COVID. For these videos, please visit our Long COVID resources page.
Post COVID Syndrome or Long COVID, is defined by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence as
“Signs and symptoms that develop during or after an infection consistent with COVID-19, continue for more than 12 weeks and are not explained by an alternative diagnosis.”
There are many signs and symptoms that can be attributed to Long COVID, these can vary significantly from person to person and the severity of which can fluctuate over time. They can include but are not limited to :
You may find that your symptoms impact on your day-to-day activities, including the ability to work, resulting in a reduced quality of life. It is important that you get the support you need. We encourage anyone who thinks they may have Long COVID to speak to their GP.
We would encourage anyone who suspects they have Long COVID to visit their GP to be assessed.
Your GP will undertake a range of tests to see if your symptoms can be explained by any other illnesses or conditions. If these can be ruled out and you are aged 18 years or over, your GP may then refer you to our Long Covid Service . Please note: we only accept referrals from Barking & Dagenham, Havering, Redbridge and Waltham Forest GPs.
If your symptoms get worse, please call 111 for more advice or for a medical emergency dial 999immediately .
You may find it helpful to take this leaflet with you in case your GP is not aware of the service we offer — Long COVID Services in Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge
Once received, your referral will be triaged by the Long COVID team a nd if accepted you will be offered an appointment for an initial assessment
A telephone or video consultation will be offered with one of our clinical staff.
Durning this appointment y ou can expect to have your signs and symptoms, needs and expectations explored, and treatment options discussed.
Support for Long COVID Recovery depends on the individual symptoms you are experiencing and their impact on your daily life. The team will however aim to:
This will be done predominantly through the Online Foundations for Recovery Programme and is supported by the Living With App.
The majority of this service is provided virtually via telephone calls, video consultations, online groups and supported by the ‘Living With’ App. Digital support is available and face-to-face appointments can be arranged for those that require it.