Most infections with Covid resolve within the first 4 weeks. “Long Covid” is an informal term that is commonly used to describe symptoms that continue or develop after an infection of Covid. Your GP may diagnose you with Long Covid if your symptoms last for longer than 12 weeks and cannot be explained by any other condition.
Long Covid is associated with a wide range of different symptoms impacting physical, psychological, and cognitive health. It can also have an effect on quality of life and ability to work or attend education.
There are around 200 symptoms associated with Long Covid – but some of the most common include:
The Long Covid Rehabilitation Hub (The Hub) has been established to support people struggling with Long Covid. We are an enthusiastic team that includes Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Clinical Psychologists, a Therapy Assistant and are well supported by a small team of Admin staff, who maintain the day to day telephone calls and emails. We all work together to support you in your recovery.
We can help you to understand the difficulties that you are experiencing. We can also help you to make changes and learn skills which will help you to manage these difficulties. We hope that this will help you to do more of the things that matter to you/ live a satisfying life.
Here is what you can expect from The Hub:
You may also be offered:
Please note that our purpose is to support you to understand and manage the difficulties you are experiencing. Our treatment pathway works on evidence based practice and based on current Nice Guidelines for Long Covid Overview | COVID-19 rapid guideline: managing the long-term effects of COVID-19 | Guidance | NICE.
The Hub offers a variety of rehabilitation/self management treatments and patients are offered options specific to their needs:
For more information about how to make a referral please click the following link Long Covid Rehabilitation Hub - Referral Information for GP's
We value the importance of clinical research and recommend accessing the following websites for up to date information:
Long COVID Research at the AWRC
Clinicians keep up to date with emerging theories and that our treatment offer is evidence based.
As we continue to learn our treatment offer progresses and changes. We are a new and innovative team and value your feedback and will ask for any thoughts or ideas via questionnaires and discussion throughout your time in the Hub. This allows us to collect outcome measures to both monitor patient progress and improve the service.
We can offer appointments in a different formats (1:1, in person, supported by interpreter etc) if required. To assist with IT queries we send out a guide to using Ms Teams when a virtual session has been booked. Please contact us to discuss your individual requirements
We have developed the hub alongside patients. We welcome any feedback to enable us to continue to grow. If you have any questions or concerns about your treatment whilst under the Hub that your clinician cannot answer, please contact the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Patient Advice and Liaisons Service (PALS) via:
Phone on 0114 271 2400, email sth.pals@nhs.net or by writing to the PALS Office, B Floor, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Glossop Road, Sheffield S10 2JF
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I started with the Long Covid Hub (LCH) in Sep 23, my journey to this point was quite a long one, after contracting Covid at the beginning of he pandemic and Long Covid (LC) (including viral fatigue) developed, I was bed bound for 12mths with many strange symptoms. For the next 3.5yrs with only slight improvement mainly through self-research and motivation. Prior to contracting LC, I was extremely active, hobbies included Skiing, Canoeing and Mountain Biking, I spent 23yrs in the military and was always above average athletically, and I lost all of this overnight.
I can honestly say, immediately after my initial chat with the Occupational Therapist, things started to get better. The fact someone actually believed what I was going through and wasn’t disregarding my symptoms, like the several GPs I’d already spoken to had, was of great relief. I still remember getting emotional at the end of our meeting. I also found out that other things that I had been happening to me other than the fatigue, that I hadn’t actually linked to Long Covid like Bloating, Brain Fog, and Pain were all linked, and knowing this information actually allowed me to start understanding more about what was going on with me, and this in itself offers so much peace of mind. The treatment plans that then followed were all beneficial, I took up everything offered to me, and all were relevant in one way or another. Both Group and 1-1 meetings all combined to a very effective programme for me personally.
The way the group meetings are setup are an extremely good way for people to share advice, alongside the advice given from the Long Covid Hub (LCH) team.
Brain fog, Identifying and Managing Stress, Explain Pain and Breathing were the first sessions I attended, the way they were presented was easy to understand, and being able to participate and share during them was helpful. The fact that these groups bring together people sharing the same issues made me realise I wasn’t alone, I believe that all of these things combined helped me mentally and had a dramatic calming effect.
I then had a psychological telephone appointment with a clinical psychologist, this is another great asset for the team to have, kind, understanding and unrushed, we discussed the options open to me, I had already investigated and was using the Sheffield Health and Wellbeing onsite councillor, so rather than using both, I stayed with the one I was already using. I would recommend using either to anyone or everyone who is going through the LCH pathway if needed.
Rest and Reset was amazing, I really enjoyed these sessions, and a lot of the practices were extremely effective almost immediately. The interaction with other sufferers and sharing good and bad moments in the safe environment, along with the explanations from the team always left me feeling good after the session.
During this period, I was also seen by a physiotherapist within the Hub, she has made a big difference to my breathing pattern and method of breathing through repetitive breathing exercises, and I’m now at the stage where I’m using the Powerbreathe to increase muscle strength, which has really made me happy.
I have also seen a member of the physiotherapy team to look at getting back into exercise, the offer of classes run by the team at graves was great, and I would have used this, but the alternative of access to the facilities at Graves Sports Centre worked better for me with work. The Hub was able to provide a free leisure pass to a limited timeframe to get me started.
I did volunteer for the Yoga trial but unfortunately missed out on selection, but I would like to say doing Yoga myself has also helped with my breathing.
My symptoms seemed to just go about 7 weeks ago, I woke up feeling different, my posture had returned, I walked at a faster pace, my speed per km had dropped from 14min/km to 10-11min/km. Everything I have done has played its part in my recovery.
Everyone in the team has been fantastic, and the Occupational Therapist has been fundamental in orchestrating my recovery. I’ve said it openly from the start, everyone is so helpful and understanding, I hate missing appointments and unfortunately brain fog and slight confusion has led to this on occasion, but the understanding of admin staff within the Hub has been great. I have recommended your service to other people I come across who are going through similar experiences. A wonderful service with wonderful people at the helm.
My physical health has improved overall, and my previous high blood pressure has returned to normal values. I have returned to work. I am now swimming every morning at 0630 before work 500m (now 900m after 6m) except Sun, Walk 10km daily minimum (now 16km after 6m) except Sun, do small weight circuit alternate days, Milon training, Yoga, Pilates, Legs bums and Tums and body balance. My Yoga instructor has already said I’m more than capable to complete any of the levels of Yoga they run at Graves, I’m not getting exhausted anymore, my recovery time is minutes not hours/days, I’m taking it steady as I know my body has lost condition, and don’t want to run before I can walk, but feel confident I’ll be cycling early next year.
Your feedback is important to us. If you have received care from the Long COVID Rehabilitation Hub, please consider sparing a few moments to share your feedback about your recent experience of our service by following the link to this simple survey.
Please note that all feedback provided on this survey is anonymous and will not affect your care or treatment but will be used to shape improvements and developments for the service. As feedback is anonymous, we are not able to respond directly to any comments you make.
