Long COVID

If you remain concerned about your symptoms or they are not improving, then you should contact your GP surgery for more advice. After your initial enquiry, your assessment may be carried out by phone, video or in person. The choice about this will be made in conjunction with your doctor or health care practitioner and will depend on your symptoms as well as whether you have any specific difficulties or are particularly vulnerable.

Your healthcare professional will ask you questions about your symptoms to help to decide whether they are likely to have been caused by your COVID-19 infection or by something else. This is likely to include asking you about your mental health as well as your physical health. You will be asked about when the symptoms started and how they have changed. You may also be asked about how you are managing with your day-to-day activities.

You may need to have a physical examination by your doctor. You may have tests which can include blood tests, a simple exercise test and a chest X-ray.

If a diagnosis unrelated to COVID-19 is suspected, then you will be offered the appropriate further ongoing assessment and care.

This is carried out after you have been assessed. Decisions are shared with you, your carers and family if appropriate and your healthcare team to agree what support and rehabilitation you need and how this can be provided.

If you are in work or education, then part of your care planning will include considering returning to this role. If your employer has an occupational health adviser, then they are likely to be involved in the plans. When and how you return to work will depend on your symptoms and on the type of job you do. Sometimes it is appropriate to return to work and carry out different activities initially to avoid doing anything which will exacerbate your symptoms. In some cases, a phased return is appropriate so that you work for fewer hours per day or for fewer days when you first return to work. Your return should be monitored by you, your employer and your healthcare team so that plans can be changed if necessary.

Self-management is usually a very important part of your care. In some cases, you will be put in touch with a link worker or support worker (for example a Community Connector) who will work with you to find ways to support your health and well-being.

Setting goals is an important part of your recovery. It helps you to identify what you want to achieve and is the first step towards translating intention into action. It is important that these are realistic and to understand that they need to be flexible to changes in your symptoms.

An action plan will help you breakdown your task into achievable steps. The steps should be specific so you know what you need to do, you should be able to measure when you have reached each step, and they should be achievable so that you stay motivated. Your goal should be relevant to you, and you should decide how long you will allow to reach it.

Keep a record of:

• your goals and what you would like to achieve
• any changes in your symptoms
• the progress you are making towards your goals
• how you feel your recovery is going
• keep a symptom diary – a symptom tracking app can help you do this

It is a good idea to talk to a relative, friend, carer or health professional about setting your goals and to review your progress. You can also talk to them about how confident you feel about reaching your goal.

It is often helpful to plan your activities to help you to keep track of how well you are recovering. A planner like this can be helpful:

• Covid19 the road to recovery activity planner

If you are struggling with low levels of energy then it is important that you plan, pace and prioritise your activities. The link gives you some helpful advice on how you might manage to do this:

• How to conserve your energy – RCOT

There is no evidence yet about any benefit or harm associated with taking over-the-counter vitamins and supplements in the treatment of new or ongoing symptoms of COVID-19.

After you have undergone your initial assessment, you, your family and your GP may decide that you need additional measures as well as self-management to help to manage your long COVID symptoms.

From April 2026, NHS Devon changed the way people with Long COVID are supported. Rather than referring everyone to a single Long COVID service, your GP will now assess your symptoms and refer you to the service that best matches what you are experiencing. This is called a symptom-based referral approach.

Your GP will continue to have access to specialist services to help support your care. If you are already being seen by a Long COVID service, you will continue to be looked after and transferred to the most appropriate service for your needs.

You can also self-refer to the HOPE Programme, an eight-week course designed to help people with Long COVID symptoms such as fatigue, breathlessness and brain fog. It includes self-help advice and lifestyle guidance to support your recovery, as well as an ‘Ask the expert’ session. You can access this through your GP practice or directly via the HOPE Programme page on MyHealth Devon.

Changes to Clinical Referral Guideline model for Long COVID

NHS Devon has changed the way Long COVID is managed to make sure you get the right support as quickly as possible. Previously, people with Long COVID symptoms were referred to a single specialist service. From April 2026, GPs will instead refer you to the service that best matches your main symptoms – this is known as a symptom-based approach.

This means that assessment and treatment will focus on the symptoms that have the greatest impact on your daily life and wellbeing, and you will be connected with the most appropriate care or rehabilitation service for you.

What this means for you:

• You should continue to contact your GP in the first instance if you are experiencing symptoms of Long COVID.
• Your GP will still be able to refer you to specialist services based on your symptoms.
• If you are currently being seen by a Long COVID service, you will continue to be supported and, if needed, transferred to the most suitable specialist service for your clinical needs.
• You can self-refer to the HOPE Programme at any time via the HOPE Programme page on MyHealth Devon, or ask your GP practice for help with this.

For more information about Long COVID, visit the NHS website.

The time it takes for someone to get better from COVID varies from person to person. Some children and young people continue to experience symptoms after their acute COVID infection. The term ‘long COVID’ is commonly used to describe signs and symptoms that continue or develop for over 4 weeks after an acute COVID infection, which cannot be explained by an alternative medical diagnosis. If you or your family have concerns about this, it is useful to explore with your GP.

There is a service within the South West for Children and Young People under 18 years, which your GP may discuss with you. It is then decided if you need additional measures, as well as self-management, to help to manage your symptoms.

Links to useful information for Children and Young People:

• Long COVID Kids is a charity which represents and supports children and young people living with Long Covid and related illnesses. It also provides support for parents and caregivers who look after them.
• Action For ME is a useful source of information and support for managing fatigue symptoms associated with Long COVID.