Hospital responds to long COVID

BENDIGO Health is seeking to get the work out about a clinic aiming to help people who are experiencing symptoms of a condition that’s been termed ‘long COVID’.

Outpatient rehabilitation physiotherapist Jarrod Maslin said the clinic has run as part of the pulmonary and chronic heart failure rehabilitation program as a response to long-term impacts suffered by people recovering from COVID-19.

“The ongoing symptoms of long COVID can have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life and our program is designed to support patients to resume activities of daily living that are important to them,” he said.

Natasya Abdurahman, the clinic’s first patient when it opened last year, said she noticed ongoing symptoms including needing more sleep.

“I was a really active person,” she said. “Long COVID affected my physical and mental health.”

Ms Abdurahman said she first spoke to her GP and now sees an exercise physiologist, occupational therapist, physiotherapist and health psychologist through the clinic, which has helped her recovery.

Mr Maslin said challenges in dealing with long COVID is that every patient may have a different experience.

“We have some who present with neurological issues and not so much chronic fatigue, then we have others who present with heart issues,” he said.

“Every time we see someone new, they’re different to the one before.”

The clinic is open for people who suffer symptoms four weeks or more after a COVID-19 infection.

Referrals can be completed by any health professional, or patients can self-refer through the Bendigo Health outpatient rehabilitation services reception on 5454 8500.