Norfolk Post-COVID Assessment Service
We provide assessment and support for people experiencing ongoing symptoms after a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19.
Our Service is for people with symptoms consistent with Post-COVID Syndrome, which continue for more than eight weeks and cannot be explained by an alternative diagnosis. Lasting symptoms of COVID-19 can include fatigue and breathlessness, anxiety and low mood, joint or muscle pain, chest pains, and cognitive changes. Post-COVID Syndrome is often called 'Long COVID'.
Everyone will vary in which symptoms they have. As a diagnosis by exclusion, your GP will rule out any other possible causes of your symptoms before you are referred to the service. Some common symptoms of Post-COVID Syndrome include:
- managing breathlessness and cough
- cardiac and chest symptoms
- fatigue management such as pacing
- managing brain fog and cognition
- altered taste and smell
- changes to voice, speech and swallowing
- nutritional advice
Wellbeing advice, including stress, anxiety, low mood, and sleep
Dizziness
Hearing and tinnitus
Physical activity
Getting back to work/occupations
Pain advice
Other post covid symptoms
Our service
Who is our service for?
Our Service is for people with symptoms consistent with Post-COVID Syndrome, which continue for more than eight weeks and cannot be explained by an alternative diagnosis. Lasting symptoms of COVID-19 can include fatigue and breathlessness, anxiety and low mood, joint or muscle pain, chest pains, and cognitive changes. Post-COVID Syndrome is often called 'Long COVID'.
Everyone will vary in which symptoms they have. As a diagnosis by exclusion, your GP will rule out any other possible causes of your symptoms before you are referred to the service. Some common symptoms of Post-COVID Syndrome include:
- managing breathlessness and cough
- cardiac and chest symptoms
- fatigue management, such as pacing
- managing brain fog and cognition
- altered taste and smell
- changes to voice, speech and swallowing
- nutritional advice
- wellbeing advice, including stress, anxiety, low mood, and sleep
- dizziness
- hearing and tinnitus
- physical activity
- getting back to work/occupations
- pain advice
- other post covid symptoms
How our service can help you
Our multi-disciplinary team includes:
- nurses
- physiotherapists
- clinical psychologists
- dieticians
- occupational therapists
- assistant practitioners
- speech and language therapists
- medical consultants
What can I expect?
- If you need any adjustments to help you access our service, or if you don't have internet access, please let us know as early as you can so we can do our best to accommodate you.
- We encourage you to attend all scheduled appointments, and to stay in touch with us throughout your care. If you're unable to attend an appointment, please let us know as soon as possible so we can offer that time to another patient in need. To make sure our service remains fair and accessible to everyone, please note: if you miss an appointment without giving at least 24 hours' notice, or if you cancel two appointments, you may be discharged from the service and your GP will be informed.
- We ask that you actively take part in your treatment plan and follow the advice provided to help manage your Post-COVID symptoms.
- You may meet different members of our team during your care. Each clinician brings different expertise, and they will always review your notes beforehand to ensure continuity in your care.
- Not every patient requires a follow-up appointment. If your symptoms change or you feel ready to take the next step in your recovery, you're welcome to get in touch with us. This is part of what we call a patient-initiated follow-up, where you can request further support when you need it.
- If you have any questions about your treatment or care pathway, please don't hesitate to contact us-we're here to help.
- If your symptoms suddenly worsen or you develop new, severe symptoms, please contact your GP, NHS 111, or call 999 in an emergency. Please note that we are not able to offer crisis mental health support or prescribe medications.
- To maintain a safe and respectful environment for everyone, we're unable to continue care for patients who behave in ways that are physically aggressive, threatening, verbally abusive, or otherwise inappropriate toward staff or property.
Watch a video explainer of what you can expect:
You will need to complete a questionnaire which will be sent to you electronically via email. This questionnaire will be reviewed by a clinician, and our admin team will contact you with an appointment. It is important that you complete this questionnaire as soon as possible, as its receipt will trigger the scheduling of your appointment.
If the questionnaire is not completed, you will not be offered an appointment. If there is a reason you cannot complete the questionnaire, please let us know.
Please read the information provided in the attached service leaflet to learn more about the service and find links to helpful websites. This will help you prepare for the next steps in your care.
Please visit the NHS Long Covid webpage for basic advice on managing your Long Covid.
If you need any reasonable adjustments, please let us know as soon as possible so we can plan for these. NHS England » Reasonable adjustments
-
Your first appointment will be over the telephone. During this appointment, the clinician will gather some information about you, including your past medical history, current medications, and any other relevant details to help manage your post-COVID symptoms. You will have the opportunity to discuss your post-COVID experience and symptoms.
-
We will offer you a choice of symptom-focused webinars and educational/support sessions that are appropriate to your symptoms and goals. We will ask you to set a small, achievable goal/target and discuss what advice and/or resources you might need to help you with this.
-
You will be required to attend an observation appointment, where we will see you in clinic and carry out some basic tests (such as blood pressure and oxygen saturation).
-
Where necessary, you will be offered specialist support for individual symptoms and may discuss your care at our multi-disciplinary team (MDT) meeting to ensure we provide the best possible support.
-
Our service will help you understand the approach that best suits you and your circumstances. Different strategies are used at various stages of recovery, depending on each individual's needs and situation.
-
You may be offered group workshop sessions focused on symptom management. Each group and session is tailored to the participants, but common themes include:
- Reflecting on your symptom triggers
- Creating conditions for change
- Recognising and managing setbacks
- Setting personal goals
-
Recovering from long COVID can be a challenging experience. Sharing your feelings with others in similar situations can be helpful. However, if group sessions don't feel right for you, we will consider your individual needs and discuss alternative options with your clinician.
Referral
Referrals to the Post-COVID Assessment Service can be made by your GP or another healthcare professional.
Before referring, they must complete the required tests in line with the referral criteria (see referral form).
For health professionals:
Once a referral is received, our clinicians will review and assess it to decide the most appropriate next steps.
Contact us
You can contact our service Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm.
Telephone number - 01603 785 860
Email address - eec.pcas@nhs.net
Useful resources
- Living with a lung condition - Asthma and Lung UK
- Physiotherapy for Breathing Pattern Disorder - Physio for BPD
Find out more about Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (PoTS) on the PoTS UK website
ACAS - Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service
For free employment-related support and advice to both employees and employers please visit:
Access to work
Access to Work is a specialist disability service which gives practical advice and support to disabled people, whether they are working, self-employed or looking for employment.
Find out more on the Gov.uk website.
- Norfolk & Waveney Talking Therapy - https://www.nandwtalkingtherapies.org.uk/
- Call Samaritans - 116 123 (24 hours) https://www.samaritans.org/
- Call 111 option 2 for NHS Mental Health Support (24 hours). This is a Crisis Response Service.
- Text SHOUT 85258 for a confidential 24/7 text service. https://giveusashout.org/get-help/
- Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) 0800 58 58 58 open 5pm - midnight. Free, confidential and anonymous. https://www.thecalmzone.net/ They also have live chat and WhatsApp options.
- SOS Silence of Suicide (8pm - midnight Monday to Friday, 4pm to midnight Saturday and Sunday) 0808 115 1505 https://silenceofsuicidesos.org.uk
- MIND Support Line 0300 102 1234 to access emotional support. They do not provide a crisis service. Or call their Info Line on 0300 123 3393 for information about mental health problems, where to get help and treatment and advocacy services. https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/helplines/
- SANE line 0300 304 7000 (Every day 4:30pm - 10:30pm) https://www.sane.org.uk/how-we-help/emotional-support/saneline-services
- NHS Five ways to wellbeing guide - 5 steps to mental wellbeing - NHS
A guide to Long COVID and mental health
See this study produced by University College London.
NHS Long COVID website
COVID Recovery - Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
10 films that provide practical advice to help you recover from COVID-19. You can use them as self-management guides.
Watch these films in any order and try to use some of the suggestions in your own personal recovery plan. Focus on the symptoms that affect you the most.
- Long Covid and diet - British Dietetic Association
- Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (or Encephalopathy) / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) - British Dietetic Association
- The Eatwell Guide - NHS
The pain toolkit organisation website: https://www.paintoolkit.org/
https://livewellwithpain.co.uk - particularly the self-help resources under the 'resources' tab.
- Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists
- Information written by speech and language therapists (SLTs) as a guide for individuals, and their carers/families, living with the aftereffects of COVID-19 infection:
