Coronavirus - guidance and patient information
Specific CHFT information and patient leaflets
Coronavirus patient screening - for patients admitted to our hospital. The leaflet explains why we'll test you and what will happen. Other languages: |
Post Covid advice. Information for people who have been diagnosed with, or are suspected to have had Covid. Rehabilitation advice created specifically by CHFT, Calderdale and Huddersfield Clinical Commissioning Groups. |
Patients with cancer – see our dedicated pages |
Long-covid - information and other support in Calderdale and Kirklees
For some people, coronavirus (COVID-19) can cause symptoms that last weeks or months after the infection has gone. This is sometimes called post-COVID-19 syndrome or "long COVID".
How long it takes to recover from COVID-19 is different for everybody. Many people feel better in a few days or weeks, and most will make a full recovery within 12 weeks. But for some people, symptoms can last longer. Visit the NHS website to find out what the symptoms of long COVID are.
Helping you to manage your COVID-19 recovery at home
If you have had COVID-19, you may still have some physical symptoms, such as, breathlessness, a cough, and a lack of energy. You may also have psychological symptoms, such as feeling scared or anxious, depressed, having trouble sleeping and struggling to remember or concentrate.
These symptoms, both physical and psychological, are common. Your Covid Recovery is a NHS website designed to help people recover from the long-term effects of coronavirus. It includes information from experts about how to manage them and look after your health and wellbeing. It also includes information on returning to work, and a helpful section for family, friends and carers of people who are recovering.
Visit the Your Covid Recovery website
When to seek more help
If you are concerned about any of your symptoms and it has been four weeks or more since you became unwell with COVID, contact your GP and ask them about “long COVID.”
They should offer you an initial consultation and provide access to any further assessments or care they determine that you need, and signpost you to sources of further support.
You can find out more about the types of questions your GP will ask on the Your COVID Recovery website
It is normal for it to take several months to recover from a viral illness and often longer with COVID -19. However, if your symptomsare not starting to improve and your GP has found no other reason for them they can refer you to a specialist Post COVID assessment clinic.
What is a Post COVID assessment clinic?
The clinic brings together a wide range of healthcare professionals including doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and psychologists to offer both physical, psychological and rehabilitation needs assessments.
A member of the team will contact you initially to ask you about your symptoms and how they are affecting your everyday life. You will be required to complete some questionnaires before accessing the service, and there is some guidance for your GP on which tests should be completed before referring you.
Most people are then offered support from a number of services both physical and psychological which have been designed to support people suffering from Long COVID. Most people start to improve slowly after receiving support from the teams.
The Calderdale Post COVID assessment clinic is run by Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust.
The Kirklees Post COVID assessment clinic is run by Locala Health & Wellbeing.
This team will support the co-ordination of Post Covid patients, who have symptoms for 12 weeks or longer, and have been referred by their GP or hospital. The MDT will refer people to those existing services that can best meet their needs.
Both services can only be accessed through a GP or hospital referral. This is to ensure that all required medical tests have been completed.
Under 18s would require a referral by GP to the Paediatric team at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust.
Additional support available in Calderdale
As well as accessing the support available through the NHS and your GP practice the following services may also be able to help in your recovery from COVID.
You can contact these services direct at any time during your recovery you do not need a referral from a health professional.
Lifestyle support
- Better Living Service- Offers support to help you improve your lifestyle such as physical activity and exercise, weight management 01422 230230
Support for your mental wellbeing
- Calderdale IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) 01484 343700
- VitaMinds IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) 0333 0153 494
- 24 hour 7 day a week mental health line 0800 183 0558
- Grief and Loss support service 0808 196 3833
Voluntary groups that can helping you feel less lonely and isolated
- Calder Community Cares – 07903 452788 for people living in Upper Calder Valley area (Todmorden, Hebden Bridge, Mytholmroyd, Luddendenfoot, Cornholme)
- Staying Well – 01422 392767
Practical information and advice to help you to live independently at home
- Gateway to Care– 01422 393000
Additional support available in Kirklees
Lifestyle support
- Wellness Service – offers support for adults (18+) who have identified a need for further help to improve their health and wellbeing. Email: wellness.service@kirklees.gov.uk - 01484 234095, or refer online Wellbeing | Healthy Living | Kirklees Wellness Service
Mental health support
- Kirklees IAPT- to refer yourself to the service - 01484 343700 or visit the website to refer onlineKirklees IAPT | Helping you to improve your wellbeing
- Find mental health support | Kirklees Council
- How to look after your mental health during the coronavirus outbreak | Mental Health Foundation
Other supporting services
- Kirklees Council Gateway to Care – 01484 414933
- Locala Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) - 0300 304 5555
National guidance and other external information, including the Covid-19 vaccine
General information from the NHS and other agencies: Health Education England - a wealth of information and resources about Coronavirus Public Health England's guidance for shielding and protecting clinically vulnerable people from Covid-19 Guidance for those under 25 who provide care for someone |
NHS information and advice about the Covid-19 vaccine. April 2021: New guidance has been issued for the use of the Oxford AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine. This follows further reviews by the independent regulator, the MHRA, and the Commission for Human Medicines, of a very small number of people in the UK who have developed a rare blood-clotting condition since having the Oxford AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine. The MHRA and Joint Committee for Vaccinations and Immunisations have emphasised that the risk of this condition is extremelysmall and that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks for the vast majority of people. Read more in this Public Heath England leaflet. |
Children and babies Advice for parents/carers of babies less than three months old during coronavirus Advice for parents/carers during coronavirus Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust fact sheet to help explain to children |
Recovering from Covid-19 Your COVID recovery - a new national NHS site. Providing a holistic approach to health and wellbeing. It includes information on areas including mental health and wellbeing, to physical strength and returning to work. The site offers general advice on recovery, returning to work and information for families and carers of post-Covid 19 patients. This website from Lancashire Teaching Hospitals also provides recovering Covid patients with information to support them during their recovery. It provides information and advice including; coping with breathlessness, mouthcare and how to eat well as you recover. There is also advice for physical activity and help when you’re feeling down. Thanks to Lancashire Teaching Hospitals for sharing it with us. |
Latest Government advice translated into 60 languages by Doctors of the World
Doctors of the World have translated Government guidance into 60 languages. Click the link to go to the page: https://www.doctorsoftheworld.org.uk/coronavirus-information/
Other languages - Covid-19 vaccine
Public Health England have added leaflets translated into many languages about the vaccine. You can read them here.
The BBC Asian Network has created some great content on the vaccine in South Asian languages. They're in Urdu, Sylheti, Punjabi, Tamil and Gujarati.
Other languages - Lockdown rules and mental health tips
The BBC Asian Network has created some great content in South Asian languages. They're in Urdu, Sylheti, Punjabi, Tamil and Gujarati
Other languages – NHS Test and Trace
The BBC Asian Network has also created some great content on Test and Trace in South Asian languages. They're in Urdu, Sylheti, Punjabi, Tamil and Gujarati. Watch them here.
Easy Read information
British Sign Language resources, including the Covid-19 vaccine
The Deaf Health Charity, SignHealth has lots of videos and resources for people living with hearing impairements.
Their pages also share information about the vaccine. See them here.
Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS)
If you're referred to hospital or other NHS premises for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostic tests by a doctor, dentist or another primary care health professional, you may be able to claim a refund of reasonable travel costs under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS). Read more here.
If you have any feedback about this page please send an email with the details of your feedback to chft@cht.nhs.uk
