Listen to the latest Talk Richmond episode – Living with Long Covid

Search for Talk Richmond on your podcast app to listen to the seventeen-minute-long episode on a resident’s experience of Long COVID and advice on how to cope with the disease from the Head of Physiotherapy at Kingston Hospital, Caroline Hopper.

Listen to the podcast

 

Long-COVID was first recognised by health professionals in the summer. It is defined by The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as signs and symptoms that develop during or following an infection consistent with COVID-19 that continue for more than 12 weeks and are not explained by an alternative diagnosis.

Tracey Pretty is from Whitton and owns a business in Twickenham. She fell ill with COVID-19 in March. Eight months later and she continues to suffer from symptoms including difficulties breathing, exhaustion, loss of taste and smell, cramps, headaches and loss of appetite, as well as struggling with her mental health.

Caroline’s clinical team have been treating COVID-19 patients since the beginning of the year, helping to monitor people’s breathing whilst in hospital and ensuring patients have good aftercare once discharged. Whilst a lot remains unclear about Long COVID, Caroline offers Tracey advice on how to help cope with her symptoms. This includes adopting a graded exercise program, cognitive behavioural therapy and pacing yourself.

Cllr Jim Millard, Tenants’ Champion and host of Talk Richmond, said:

'We put a request out on social media for residents to get in touch if they are suffering from Long COVID and would like to talk to us about their experience. We received a lot of interest - I hope this episode has been useful to these people and anyone who has questions and concerns about Long COVID.

'This is the tenth and final episode of Talk Richmond Season One. We would love for listeners to send us feedback and suggestions for the next series. Please email us on talk@richmond.gov.uk'

Notes for editors

If you are a journalist and would like further information about this press release, contact  Fenna Maynard on 020 8487 5182.

Reference: P464/20