Long Covid: how it affects Rotherham residents and what services they are accessing

Healthwatch Rotherham used an online survey to explore the impact Long Covid is having on people in Rotherham and the general South Yorkshire area. There were 48 responses. 

Key findings:

• Work, physical health and social life were the area’s most affected by Long Covid.
• Fatigue, breathlessness and cognitive impairment (headaches, lack of focus and dizziness) were the most common symptoms experienced, but a wide variety of symptoms were mentioned by participants, highlighting the different experiences people have with this condition.
• Patients who did attend the GP for symptoms felt that they did not recognise Long Covid as the potential cause, putting it down to other conditions such as asthma. This caused a delay in treatment and official diagnosis.
• 21% of respondents are still waiting for a referral to a post-Covid service at the time of writing, with some respondents having been experiencing symptoms for over a year, with 26% of people having difficulty in accessing appointments for the post-Covid service.
• For those who have not attended a GP appointment or been referred to a post-Covid service, self-help was the most popular form of treatment, with respondents highlighting the importance of family and friends in supporting them with their wellbeing.
• Respondents recommended that GP’s and post-Covid services communicate better to ensure patients are not repeating themselves to multiple health professionals, and that medical notes are shared.
• Respondents wanted more awareness raising of Long Covid and the effects it has on physical and mental wellbeing, and for this information to be shared with employers, as people have reported that they have struggled at work, to access benefits and have felt unsupported due to symptoms fluctuating on a daily basis.