NHS England have released a report summarising some of the long-term afterccare needs identified by people recovering from COVID-19.
It is becoming increasingly clear that people who have been hospitalised and subsequently recovered from COVID-19 may need additional support from primary and community care services in managing the long-term impact of COVID-19 on their health. D4D encourage technology developers to read this valuable resource.
The report highlights the need for physical, social, psychological and neuro-psychological support and presents broad categories where high levels of need are anticipated.
From the report:
“Community health services – working together with other providers of physical and mental health care – will need to support the increase in patients who have recovered from COVID-19 and who, having been discharged from hospital, need ongoing health support that rehabilitates them both physically and mentally. Meeting these challenges will be a joint endeavour, working seamlessly together including through, for example, multidisciplinary teams and/or virtual ward arrangements.
It is important to note that the impact of COVID-19 on patients is a rapidly-evolving picture and comprehensive data is not yet available on all aspects. Following publication of this guidance, local areas should continue to consider further information published to support management of issues raised in this document.
Work is underway to understand the relationship between health inequalities and COVID-19, which must be taken into account in considering the care and support for patients.
Patients with pre-existing health conditions may require immediate or longer-term changes to the management of those conditions as a result of their COVID-19 episode, however, that is not the focus of this guidance.”
The full report can be downloaded here.
