What is long COVID

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People who have COVID-19 normally recover within a few days or weeks. However, for some people symptoms can last longer. If symptoms persist, you may have ‘long COVID’.

We want to help people in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent recognise long COVID signs and symptoms, reach out for long COVID help and support, and receive the help they need to recover.

We understand that people suffering with long COVID need to be listened to, have their symptoms recognised, and know there is support available.

Recognise – long COVID symptoms

There are four main long COVID symptoms:

Shortness of breath (breathlessness)
Changes in mood (feeling low or anxious as a result of COVID symptoms)
Extreme tiredness and lack of energy (fatigue)
Brain fog (forgetfulness, feeling confused or poor concentration).

Some people may have other long COVID symptoms such as:

Aching muscles or joints
Changes to your sense of smell or taste
A fast heartbeat
Feeling dizzy
Earache or ringing in your ears (tinnitus)
Feeling sick, stomach ache, or not feeling hungry
Finding it hard to sleep
A high temperature
A cough or sore throat
Headaches.

For a full list of long COVID symptoms, visit the NHS website.

Reach out – help and support with long COVID

If you have had any of the long COVID symptoms for four weeks or more, contact your GP who may suggest further tests or refer you to the long COVID service.

The long COVID service in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent is run by Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT). It supports adults who have been referred into the service by their GP. You cannot self-refer.

The long COVID service brings together clinical specialists including rehabilitation physiotherapists, occupational therapists, GPs, care coordinators and psychology support. They run long COVID workshops, exercise classes in the community, provide a patient peer support group and signpost to other services, developing successful community partnerships and collaborative working to deliver services.

What happens if I am referred to the long COVID service

Referrals for adults who have had COVID-19 symptoms from 4 – 12 weeks

Following a referral from your GP, you will receive a call from a care coordinator to discuss your symptoms at 4, 8 and 12 weeks. During this time, the care coordinator can support you with self-management resources and advice/guidance from a clinician as needed.

Referrals for adults who have had COVID symptoms for 12 weeks or longer

If you continue to have symptoms after 12 weeks, a clinician will contact you to complete an assessment and create a care plan for you. Further tests or a referral into other services may be required. Your referral will remain open for six months, allowing you to arrange a follow-up appointment if you need it.

Recover – recovering from long COVID

Long COVID help and support groups in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent:

North Staffs Carers: call 01782 793100
Staffordshire Together for Carers Service (for the rest of Staffordshire): call 03450 138 208

Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Talking Therapies: call 0300 303 0923

Staffordshire Mental Health Helpline: call 07860 022821 or email staffordshire.helpline@brighterfutures.org.uk

Stoke-on-Trent support services: list of services and organisations offering support

Mental health support is available if you feel like you cannot cope with your symptoms.

If you live in Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-Under-Lyme or Staffordshire Moorlands and need urgent mental health support, call the North Staffordshire helpline any time on 0800 032 8728.

If you live in Stafford, Stone, Rugeley, Cannock, South Staffordshire, Lichfield, Burton, Uttoxeter or Tamworth and need urgent mental health support, call the South Staffordshire helpline any time on 0808 196 3002.

Long COVID services you may be referred to:

MPFT Dietetics services (adults)

MPFT Respiratory Services: including patient leaflets, useful websites and videos

MPFT Speech and Language Therapy Services (adults)

MPFT Neuropsychology (North and South).

Further long COVID self-help resources:

Your COVID Recovery is an NHS programme with information and advice for people recovering from COVID-19. You will need to be referred to the programme by a healthcare professional. You will be given a unique code to register to the programme.

Supporting your recovery journey community rehabilitation advice is a booklet produced by health professionals to support you with your recovery.

About long COVID is an easy read document with information about long COVID and pathways for support.

Long COVID: recognise the signs, reach out for support and get the help you need to recover is an information leaflet about the signs and symptoms of long COVID and the support available.

This leaflet has been translated into the following languages:

Long COVID social media asset is a graphic for partner organisations to use on their own channels to raise awareness of long COVID amongst their audiences

Long COVID poster is a poster for partner organisations to display within their own settings to raise awareness of long COVID amongst their audiences. This poster has been translated into the following languages:

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