Care closer to home: Post Covid service now delivered at Eastwood Community Hub

Nottinghamshire Healthcare’s Post Covid Service, which provides support to adults in Nottinghamshire living with symptoms of long covid, has recently started to deliver its service from Eastwood Community Hub.

Clinics are held in various locations throughout the county and patients are offered an appointment at their nearest setting.  People who would benefit from the service will be experiencing a wide range of symptoms that affect their daily life. These can include extreme tiredness, breathlessness, memory and concentration difficulties (often referred to as brain fog), heart palpitations, dizziness, and joint or muscle pain. These symptoms can appear weeks or months after an illness and may fluctuate or persist over time.

This service is a brilliant addition to the services at the hub and the fledgling Eastwood Integrated Neighbourhood Team. Integrated Neighbourhood Teams support holistic care in the community, which is focused on co-ordinating care across different services for patients to best meet their care needs and closer to home.

Anna Allen, Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist for Nottinghamshire Healthcare’s Post Covid Service had been looking at ways the team could provide care closer to where people live.  She says: “I particularly help people in work who are struggling, some people are referred because they are in work but need support with reasonable adjustments. Some people are off sick as they’re not coping, and they need advice and guidance about how to manage and build their tolerance up and with reasonable adjustments. It’s really important that we are able to see people at a place that is convenient to them and so it’s great that we have been welcomed to the Eastwood Hub.”

The first patient to visit Anna at the new venue in December was Scott Turner. He says: “I’ve been suffering from fatigue and other symptoms since 2020, managing myself whilst also dealing with cancer but a lot of consultants thought my symptoms were linked to the cancer, but I felt it wasn’t, it felt different. After a few years of this continuing, a consultant agreed that it wasn’t normal. Every day I go to bed midday and that’s no way to live and I work full time. And so, my consultant said ‘right I’ll refer you to the post covid clinic.’

“My first meeting was in Mansfield so a bit away from me in Hucknall, and within the service, I was referred into occupational therapy. It’s great to be able to have consultations at the Eastwood Hub as it’s much closer to home and when you have fatigue it’s the little stresses that takes things out of you.”

Finlay Lowe, Economic Development Officer at Broxtowe Borough Council says: “Over the last few months, Eastwood CEDARs has continued to establish itself as a central, accessible space where residents can engage with health, housing, employment and wellbeing services.

“The hub is steadily becoming a place where support is delivered in a familiar and community‑focused setting, one of which has provided assistance and care to many residents.

“As more providers express interest in using the space, we’ll ensure activities remain well‑coordinated and shaped around what works best for Eastwood. Momentum is building, and we’re pleased to see the hub evolving into a resource that supports prevention, early help, and day-to-day wellbeing for local people.”

Listen to Anna talking about the service and how it can help you.

You can self-refer by calling the service on 07771 388185 Monday to Friday 9am-5pm, emailing postcovid@nottshc.nhs.uk, or your GP can refer you. You can also self-refer at: https://forms.office.com/e/8MwC2T9dZv

If your organisation would like to use the facility, contact the CEDARS Project Manager at 0115 917 3540 or finlay.lowe@broxtowe.gov.uk