Covid 19: The Long Road to Recovery

Published: Sept. 8, 2020, 7:40 p.m.

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After Coronavirus, the survivors left with life-changing and long term conditions. The physical and psychological aftermath of Covid 19 and the pressure on rehabilitation services. Nearly 3 million people in the UK have had symptomatic coronavirus. More than one hundred thousand so severely, they needed hospital treatment.\\nThis is a new disease, so doctors are guessing when it comes to the symptoms people will have long term. \\nBut it\\u2019s clear this virus has a sting in its tail. The sickest patients have damage to their lungs and kidney which could be permanent. Some research shows the risk of heart attack or stroke is high. File on 4 talks to people living with the after effects of Covid 19 who say surviving was just the beginning. There are a multiotide of physical after effects - and many more have suffered post-traumatic stress disorder. People describe flashbacks to the ITU, seeing people die, overhearing their last goodbyes with loved ones on phone or the internet. \\nPatients who were hospitalised get follow-ups, and referrals for rehabilitation and possibly, counselling.\\nBut what of the hundreds of thousands of other people who fell ill and who, if it weren\\u2019t a pandemic, might have gone to hospital, but were told to stay at home?\\nResearchers say there are at least 300,000 people who have had symptoms of Coronavirus for more than a month \\u2013 so called Long Haul Covid. \\nMany are young and previously fit. They say they had a mild case of the virus. But they have been floored by the symptoms that followed \\u2013 breathlessness, racing heart, weakness. And they're struggling to get care and support.

Reporter: Jane Deith\\nProducer: Helen Clifton\\nEditor: Carl Johnston

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