Research from Keele University has been used to help launch a new tool to support people living with Long Covid. 

The “Supporting Long Covid Care” tool, led by the University of Southampton, includes a number of tools and resources to help those living with the condition, as well as their families, and includes a symptom checker, advice on seeking support, and encourages people to talk about their symptoms with healthcare professionals, friends and family. 

Findings from the Hi-COVE study, led by the University of Westminster with Keele’s Professor Carolyn Chew-Graham OBE and Dr Tom Kingstone, were used in the development of the tool. The study looked at the effect of Long Covid on ethnic minority populations. 

In March 2023, the Office for National Statistics estimated that 1.9 million people were living with Long Covid in the UK.   

The tool is primarily aimed at people who may have Long Covid but are not currently accessing care but may also be helpful to those who are engaged with the health service. The tool aims to encourage people with probable Long Covid to seek support from the NHS or other services. It covers topics of self-doubt, stigma and effects on mental health as well as offering resources, tips to manage symptoms and advice on next steps. 

The tool is also aimed at doctors and other professionals (social workers, social prescribers, allied health professionals, pharmacists), as well as community groups and voluntary organisations, to raise awareness about the difficulties people may face when considering reaching out for a health consultation or community support. 

Professor Carolyn Chew-Graham OBE said: “Dr Tom Kingstone and I are incredibly pleased to see the launch of the Supporting Long Covid Care tool - work that has come out of the Hi-COVE study. It has been a true collaborative effort across the research teams.  

“We hope this tool is valuable for people with symptoms following an acute Covid-19 infection, people living with Long Covid as well as clinicians in primary and secondary care who play a key role in supporting people living with the disabling symptoms of Long Covid. There are nearly 2million people with Long Covid in the UK - all in need of help and support. At a time when the NHS Your Covid Recovery website is being retired, we hope our tool will provide a much-needed resource.”