Post Covid Rehabilitation Hub

Author: Charlotte Carolan - Sheffield Post Covid Programme Manager, STH

Date Published: March 2021

Date to Review: March 2022

Description:

The new Sheffield Post Covid Rehabilitation Hub is one of a network of nationwide assessment centres set up by NHS England to help patients suffering longer lasting health issues as a result of coronavirus.

These prolonged effects, affect around 5-10% of patients, irrespective of whether they have been treated in hospital or managed an infection in the community, and may linger or recur for months after their initial recovery. They are being reported by some as having a severe impact on the quality of their lives.

The Sheffield Post Covid Rehabilitation Hub has been developed by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with colleagues in primary care, mental health services, patients and researchers to provide specialist support to those with ‘Long Covid’ or ‘Post Covid Syndrome’.

The Hub aims to:

• Provide a holistic approach to the management of patients with Post Covid symptoms, taking into account any physical, psychological or social problems you may be encountering.

• Assess patients’ needs and ensure they are referred to the appropriate service/s to meet their needs.

• Liaise with services that may already have input into the patient’s care

The Hub may offer patients:

• Advice and guidance to continue to manage their symptoms

• A rehabilitation programme from one of our community based teams

• A Covid Rehabilitation Specialist Therapist review

• A medical review with a rehabilitation specialist consultant if appropriate

• Support for psychological well being

• Referral into other specialist services i.e. Dietetics, SALT, IAPT, Chronic Fatigue services

• Advice regarding returning to work

• Referral to the volunteer organisations

GPs and doctors referring patients to the Hub should exclude any other medical reasons for symptomatology before referring into the Hub using the ‘Post Covid ICE test bundle’

Referrals can be made by completing the ‘Post Covid referral’ and ‘Screening tool’ available in SystemOne or EMIS. These should be sent to Single Point of Access (SPA) via the normal referral route.

Given that symptoms may take several weeks to subside with advice and self-help, we anticipate that referrals to the hub will occur circa 12 weeks post diagnosis. However referrals received before this point will be reviewed by the hub team.

Documents in this section:

• Pathway Diagram

• Screening form

• Referral form

• GP pathway

• GP Leaflet

Please click on the link below to access the above documents.

https://www.sheffieldccgportal.co.uk/referral-forms/post-covid-rehabilitation-hub