Long COVID: New research into the ‘silent epidemic’
By autumn 2021 there could be more people suffering from Long COVID in the UK than from dementia. How can health care services cope with this serious challenge – a condition which can include multi-organ damage, clotting problems, disordered immune response, and renal, liver and brain issues, yet remains little understood? DR ELAINE MAXWELL of the National Institute for Health Research tells us how the NIHR’s Long COVID report uncovered a growing and complex problem, and discovered that the largest group of sufferers are working age women in healthcare – AKA nurses. Nursing Matters is presented by PNC chair RACHEL HOLLIS and Professor ALISON LEARY. We’d love to hear your questions. Tweet them to @theRCN tagged #NursingMatters • “We have to assume that everyone who has had COVID-19 might have Long COVID.” • “Just about any part of the body can be affected by Long COVID and that makes it extremely difficult to treat.” • “It became clear very quickly that this wasn’t just people who’d been in intensive care. All sorts of people were suffering from long-term effects from COVID.” • “Some people are more ill now than they were from their original infections.” Presented by Rachel Hollis and Alison Leary. Audio production by Alex Rees. Assistant producer Jelena Sofronijevic. Music: ‘Snappy’ by Jonathan Boyle under licence from premiumbeat.com. Nursing Matters is a Podmasters Production for the RCN. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices