Hounslow Post COVID Service

Service information

Long Covid.jpeg

We are an NHS service for adults living in the borough of Hounslow who have been adversely affected by COVID-19 for longer than 4 weeks.

We support people who struggle to carry out everyday activities because of the after-effects of COVID-19.

Post COVID-19 symptoms are wide ranging and fluctuating, some of the most common symptoms include: fatigue, breathlessness, headaches, muscle aches, brain fog, anxiety, depression, impaired sleep, and heart rate changes.

All referrals are initially reviewed through the Hounslow Adult Post COVID Community Multidisciplinary meeting. This meets on a weekly basis and aims to connect each person with the right support, based on the challenges they are experiencing due to the impact of Post/Long COVID on their life.

We are a relatively a small service with an MDT approach (occupational therapy, physiotherapy, therapy assistant, and administrator). Through the weekly multidisciplinary meeting we also have a strong partnership with IAPT Hounslow, clinical psychology input, and links with community respiratory services.

What we offer

Three different types of support and guidance to help manage symptoms and recover life, including:

Support is shaped around each individual and delivered in the most appropriate place. This can either as a clinic appointment at Heart of Hounslow, an online video consultation, a telephone call, or at a person’s home.

Useful information

Mood

IAPT Hounslow (westlondon.nhs.uk)

Psychological therapies including a specific Long Covid Group. Self-refer by phone/ website.

Peer Support

COVID-19 Survivors Group UK - Self Help UK

Self Help UK is a chance to talk to others who have survived COVID-19 and had similar experiences

Smell/ Taste retraining

Smell training techniques to do at home

Smell training - Fifth Sense

General information about Long Covid

NWL Post Covid Service (nwlondonics.nhs.uk)

Living With Post Covid :: North West London ICS (nwlondonics.nhs.uk)

Resources for self-management of Post Covid Syndrome

This page contains useful resources for managing Post COVID symptoms yourself. You can find specific support under the following relevant sections:

Referrals

People with a Hounslow GP who are experiencing continuing symptoms for longer than 4 weeks after a COVID-19 infection, can be referred for Post COVID Services by their GP.

A face-to-face assessment and additional required investigations to rule out other causes of symptoms will be completed by a GP before referral. The GP may also provide initial support and guidance, to see if this helps improve symptoms, before referring on to specialist support.

All referrals will be sent to the North West London (NWL) Post COVID SPA. The referral will initially be triaged by NWL Post COVID clinicians.

If community support is indicated, the referral will be transferred to the Hounslow Post COVID Service. However, if further medical investigations are needed, it will be directed to a Post COVID-19 syndrome assessment clinic (PCAC) for assessment and treatment as an outpatient appointment at a local hospital.

NWL Post Covid Service (nwlondonics.nhs.uk)