COVID recovery (long COVID)
On this page
The COVID Recovery service and long COVID clinic.
While most people recover quickly from coronavirus (COVID-19), some people may have ongoing symptoms. These can last for a few weeks or longer. This has been referred to as long COVID.
Important: Contacts
email nhsh.covidrecovery@nhs.scot
Based at Raigmore Hospital (Inverness).
Our team
- Linda Currie - Clinical Lead (part-time)
- Hannes De Kock - Clinical Psychology and Team Lead (part-time)
- Andrea Douglas - Rehabilitation Physiotherapist (part-time)
- Susan Walker - Occupational Therapist (part-time)
- Janet Scott - Physician (1 day/week)
- Carolyn Forsythe - GP (1 day/week)
- Linda O’Brien - Administrator (part-time)
Definition
A definition of long COVID from the World Health Organisation:
Long COVID, also known as post-COVID-19 condition: the continuation or development of new symptoms 3 months after the initial SARS-CoV-2 infection, with these symptoms lasting for at least 2 months with no other explanation.
From the Office of National Statistics (ONS):
In the UK, it is estimated that approximately 2 million people (3% of the population) experience long COVID, 3 times the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis. About 10% of individuals who have had COVID-19 develop long COVID.
Stimulate-ICP clinical trial now recruiting
NHS Highland is now recruiting for the national Stimulate-ICP clinical trial, the largest clinical study of long COVID to date. It is a randomised, open label study. To take part, patients need to:
- be referred to this NHS Highland COVID Recovery service
- not have been hospitalised for COVID19
- not be taking any contraindicated medication
Local queries should come to:
- email janet.scott3@nhs.scot (principal investigator)
- email fiona.barrett1@nhs.scot (lead research nurse)
A consortium of researchers, health professionals, patients and industry partners from over 30 organisations, led by University College London Hospitals NHS Trust and University College London, are working together in the largest clinical study of long COVID to-date.
Find out more at the STIMULATE-ICP website, including how to take part.
Recent news
Patient information meeting
A long COVID information meeting for NHS Highland patients was held on 7 February 2024 - view or download the presentation slides from this meeting:
News and research from NHS Highland's COVID Recovery service (February 2024) (pdf)
The COVID Recovery service advocates for testing all long COVID patients for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) with a NASA lean test. This is on the basis of research we have contributed to via the LOCOMOTION study:
- LOCOMOTION - Long COVID Study
- Prevalence of orthostatic intolerance in Long COVID clinic patients: a multicentre observational study
In order to allow all of our rural patients access to this, we have developed a home testing protocol. View or download instructions on how to carry out a NASA lean test (pdf, November 2023).
Press article
NHS Highland GP: Long Covid gave me crippling fatigue and brain fog - from The Inverness Courier, 15 March 2024
Important: Long-term effects of COVID-19 (long COVID)
Information and support if you have ongoing symptoms after coronavirus:
- what is long COVID?
- signs and symptoms of long COVID
- assessing long COVID symptoms
- your recovery
- long COVID patient booklet
- support for unpaid carers
- signs and symptoms
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