Bradford has one of highest rates of long Covid

Thousands of patients from GP practices were polled from January to April, including 65 in the NHS Bradford District and Craven Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) area.

Patients were asked if they were still experiencing symptoms more than 12 weeks after they first had Covid-19, that could not be explained by something else.

The Bradford district has one of the highest rates of long Covid

Of the 6,363 respondents in Bradford and Craven, 418 (6.6 per cent) said they had symptoms of long Covid – one of the highest rates in England.

Applying this rate to the latest population estimate for the CCG area as a whole means 30,204 people aged 16 and over in the area could be suffering from lingering health problems.

Telegraph & Argus readers have shared their own experience of suffering from long Covid and the toll it has taken on them.

'It's scary - I'm constantly breathless and fatigued'

Dawn Rushworth, 42, from Tyersal, said she was “strong and healthy” before her problems started in February.

She said: “I’ve constantly been in contact with my GP since I had Covid. I’ve been breathless, coughing my lungs out, fatigued and I now suffer from insomnia.

“Every time I called the GP, he told me to get in touch if the symptoms got worse and when I started getting chest pains, I told them I wanted this taken further.

“I’ve been off work since February and the GP has been giving my sick notes but that seems to be it, no further help issued. I’ve been told it’s working its way through me.

“Before I got Covid, I was strong and healthy, I was a fast walker and rower.

“Now I’m constantly breathless and fatigued and due to my lack of activity, I’ve put on about a stone.

“It’s scary. I just went for my cardiology appointment where they did an ECG.

“They gave me tablets and told me I was being referred for further tests.”

Others took to the T&A Facebook page to share their experiences.

'Not the man he was'

Marie Mcnulty posted in response to our callout: “My partner is having tests on his kidneys, lungs and heart and is very fatigued. This is not the man he was.

“Before covid he was in the gym most days and out and about, now he is breathless just getting a shower.”

Susan Smith added: “Went for a routine lung scan only to find I had lung damage and inflammation left from Covid, which I'd had two months earlier.

“Then had two lots of antibiotics and still don't feel right. No energy, feel constantly tired and it's made my Fibromyalgia worse.”

What is being done in Bradford to help?

A specialised long Covid service has been operating for more than a year in the Bradford district.

Dr Katherine Hickman, GP clinical lead for the Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership respiratory programme, said: “Long Covid is a complex area that can present itself in a variety of ways. Our service is staffed by a brilliant mix of professionals to help manage long Covid from both a clinical and mental wellbeing perspective, which provides holistic care for our patients.

“We have had some fantastic feedback about our long Covid service and are using some unique ways to help support patients through their recovery, including the use of digital, rehabilitation and therapy.

“Patients referred into the service use a dedicated app, which is recognised as the first worldwide long Covid outcome measure. This means they are able to complete measures on the app, access information and receive notifications throughout their care.”

'It will lead to a massive burden of ill health'

Across England, 4.4 per cent of GP patients said they had long Covid symptoms – which can include fatigue, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations – around two million people.

Long Covid SOS said this rate is higher than estimates by the Office for National Statistics, but it’s also possible that many people may not be aware they have it at all.

Ondine Sherwood, co-founder of the charity, urged the Government to acknowledge it’s a “major issue impacting a significant proportion of the population and that it will lead to a massive burden of ill health on the NHS, on society and the economy”.

The Department of Health and Social Care said more than £50 million has gone to help scientists understand the virus's long-term debilitating effects, while the NHS has committed £224 million to support people with ongoing symptoms.