For some people, COVID-19 can cause symptoms that last for weeks or months after the infection has gone. This is referred to as post-COVID-19 syndrome or ‘long Covid’ – the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) defines long Covid as lasting for more than 12 weeks.

Details of how many people are affected by long Covid are still emerging. However, a study published in June by Imperial College London, of half a million adults in England who reported having Covid, found that over a third still had at least one symptom 12 weeks later. When these findings are applied to all the people in England who have been ill with Covid, this could mean more than two million people may have experienced long Covid.

If long Covid qualifies as a disability, employers have a positive duty to consider what, if any, reasonable adjustments can be made to assist.

In response, this awareness webinar has been developed and will be delivered on two dates, ‘Long Covid – What It Is, How To Manage It and the Employer’s Responsibility’, delivered by colleagues in LBB Public Health, LBB HR and Bromley CCG.

Dates and times: 22nd September, 15:00 – 16:30 and 6th October, 15:00 – 16:30

Platform: MS Teams

Speakers:

• Nada Lemic, Director of Public Health LBB
• Dr Jenny Selway, Public Heath Consultant LBB
• Esther Dias, Health Protection/Infection Prevention & Control Lead Specialist LBB
• Alexander Wicking, Public Health Intelligence Analyst LBB
• Dr Jon Doyle and Dr Zia Buckhoree, GPs at South View Partnership
• Charles Obazuaye Director of HR, Customer Services and Public Affairs LBB

Target Group: All Staff including managers, partner agencies and foster carers

Content:

• A background to long Covid, including an overview of numbers
• A shared learning opportunity to explore continuing challenges faced by some people who have contracted Covid-19
• Long Covid from the GP perspective and the pathway currently being used, detailing the treatment and support available
• An overview of the literature surrounding long Covid
• How to support staff with long Covid
• An interactive Q&A session

How to Book

To book onto the above webinars, email LearningDevelopment@bromley.gov.uk. You will receive joining instructions as confirmation of your booking; these will explain step-by-step how to access the webinar.

Please also click here to watch a Panorama documentary surrounding long Covid.

Need to talk to someone?

The Council have a number of options available to you if you feel like you need to speak with someone:

Charities you can call:

• Mind Infoline – Call 0300 123 3393 (Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm, except for bank holidays)
• Samaritans – Call 116 123 (24 hours a day, 365 days a year)
• Cruse Bereavement Care - Call 0808 808 1677 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
• SOS Silence of Suicide – Call 0300 1020 505 – 4pm to midnight every day

If you have any feedback or suggestions to support staff wellbeing (for example activities, tools and hints & tips), please contact LearningDevelopment@bromley.gov.uk.