CLINICS to tackle the debilitating effects of 'Long Covid' are being set up across the country by the NHS and are due to open by the end of the month.

There will be more than 40 specialist clinics across England to help the thousands of people suffering the long-term effects of Covid-19, with one set up in the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership, which encompasses the Bradford district.

The clinics are due to open before the end of November, bringing together doctors, nurses, therapists and other NHS staff to physically and psychologically assess patients suffering long-term effects following being infected by Covid-19.

More than 60,000 people across the UK are thought to be suffering with Long Covid, which causes isses such as continuing fatigue, breathlessness, 'brain fog', and pain.

At a cost of £10 million, the clinics will see people who were hospitalised or tested positive with Covid-19, or who "reasonably believe" they have had the virus.

Patients can be referred to the clinic by their GP or other healthcare professional.

The NHS has also set up a new taskforce with patients, charities, researchers and clinicians, to manage the approach to Long Covid and produce information material to provide wider understanding of the condition.

Sir Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, said: “Long Covid is already having a very serious impact on many people’s lives and could well go on to affect hundreds of thousands.

“That is why, while treating rising numbers of patients who are sick with the virus and many more who do not have it, the NHS is taking action to address those suffering ongoing health issues.

“These pioneering ‘Long Covid’ clinics will help address the very real problems being faced by patients today while the taskforce will help the NHS develop a greater understanding of the lasting effects of coronavirus.”

A King's College London study found women, older people, and those who suffered a greater number of symptoms in the first week of their illness are more likely to suffer from Long Covid.

The condition is also being divided up into four different syndromes; post intensive care syndrome, post viral fatigue syndrome, permanent organ damage and long term Covid syndrome.