Witham: Long Covid support clinic launches new mobile unit

The Mid and South Essex NHS trust held its monthly long Covid support service at the Grove Yard Shopping Centre, with its brand-new mobile unit on April 11.

The vehicle will be located outside the Witham Community Hub roughly once a month and it will be taken by the long Covid support team twice a week across mid and south Essex.

The initiative is delivered as part of the Mid and South Essex Community Collaborative, a partnership between the Essex Partnership University NHS Trust, North East London NHS Trust, and Provide Community, in Colchester.

New - the mobile unit outside the Witham Community Hub (Image: Newsquest)

Large - the mobile unit located in Witham's Grove Shopping Centre (Image: Newsquest)

The team will travel to deprived areas and meet residents through drop-in and pre-booked sessions while they have the mobile unit over the next year.

They will help residents learn about managing the symptoms of long Covid.

The condition that can be diagnosed by a GP if patients still have symptoms of the illness between four to 12 weeks or more after testing positive.

Symptoms can include fatigue, brain fog, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, dizziness or joint pain and muscle aches.

Support - the banner outside the mobile unit in Witham (Image: Newsquest)

Great - another image of the mobile unit (Image: Newsquest)

Individuals can be referred to the long Covid service and can now be seen at the mobile unit which has two clinical rooms, handwashing facilities, and disabled access.

Patients can undergo spirometry, which is a lung function test, have their blood pressure taken, oxygen saturation levels assessed, and new patients can be assessed or referred to rehab courses.

Assessments for postural tachycardia syndrome, a condition where your heart rate increases very quickly after getting up, a common condition after contracting Covid can also be done at the unit.

Useful - one of the clinic rooms in the mobile unit (Image: Newsquest)

Service - a sign for the clinic (Image: Newsquest)

In the unit there are two to four members of staff, and a clinic can roughly be from 10am to 3.30pm, where up to 20 people can be seen in drop-in slots.

The team's Alex Lambert said: “Lots of people across mid and south Essex are struggling with symptoms of long Covid not realising that they have long Covid or that there's even a condition.

“We see lots of patients that were really fit and well, who now struggle to put their bin out even. It’s the fatigue and everything that can go with it.

Supportive - Maxine Allen and Alex Lambert in the mobile unit ready for patients (Image: Newsquest)

“If anyone is having symptoms or is unsure what's going on, it's always worth coming to have a chat with us.

“We can guide you as to what to do next and the support that we can offer through the service as we have a multidisciplinary team."

The long covid support unit will next be in Witham on May 16.