Citizens Advice in Suffolk and north east Essex are leading a major public awareness campaign to promote the symptoms of Long COVID and the support they can offer to people who might be experiencing non-clinical problems associated with the condition.
Long COVID can have a devastating impact on many areas of a person’s life including employment, benefits, finances and debt, housing, and relationships.
Suffolk and North East Essex Long Covid Assessment Service (SNELCAS) – which manages a patient’s clinical needs – can refer patients to their Local Citizens Advice for non-clinical support.
Citizens Advice can provide ongoing, targeted, personalised advice and help. This might include letter writing, form filling, advocacy, help accessing legal advice, grants and other welfare support, mediation and more. They can also refer patients to local activities including art, fitness and befriending groups.
We know that there are many people out there who need our help but either don’t recognise the symptoms of Long COVID, or don’t know that help is available and where to get it.
We would particularly like to reach communities who might not normally access these services, e.g. Gypsy / Roma / Traveller communities, Black and Minority Ethnic communities, people with learning disabilities, the LGBTQ+ community, the prison population/ex-offenders, and younger males between the ages of 16 and 25.
Citizens Advice has produced a pack of promotional material to raise awareness about the symptoms of Long COVID and the support available. Anyone who would like to help, can download promotional resources from the Citizens Advice West Suffolk / Long COVID Project page on the website.
Symptoms of Long COVID
The most common symptoms of Long COVID are:
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extreme tiredness (fatigue)
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feeling short of breath
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loss of smell
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muscle aches
However, there are lots of symptoms you can have after a COVID-19 infection.
Julia, a Long COVID patient, says: “I wasn’t hospitalised, I just felt really, really, really, rough, and it was like a bad flu but I just didn’t get better. The difference was that I had trouble with my breathing and I’ve never had that before. The most distressing thing is the brain fog, just not being able to remember things. It massively affects the whole spectrum of your life. I haven’t kept in touch with friends. If they phone me, it’s great but I just don’t feel I can pick up the phone I’m not up to keeping in touch.”
Anyone recognising these symptoms should go to their GP in the first instance.
Carol Eagles, Chief Executive Officer of Citizens Advice West Suffolk says: “We really want people to know about this important service, because hundreds of people are being affected by Long COVID and it has a massive impact on many areas of their lives. People are losing their jobs, families, friends and even their homes because they are too unwell to work, socialise or manage their life admin. We are here to help with the social aspects of their Long COVID recovery.”
Kim, a Long Covid patient, who received help with Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Blue Badge applications says: “I finally heard from PIP and have been awarded the care and mobility elements, so thank you for that. Now that I have my PIP paperwork, I sent that through for the Blue Badge and that has also been awarded for me. So I wanted to say a huge thank you as this will make a huge difference in my life and help my family no end.”
Bev Perkins, Chief Executive Offer of Citizens Advice Colchester, says: “We encourage anyone who thinks they may have Long COVID to call their GP surgery. They should fully explain their symptoms to the receptionist, say how long they have had them and how long ago they were infected with the COVID-19 virus.
Patients referred by their GP to SNELCAS can receive treatment for their symptoms or further tests. They can then be referred to the Citizens Advice Long Covid Project for ongoing, personalised support from a Social Prescriber who can help them manage the other areas of their life affected by Long COVID. Long COVID can be extremely debilitating and have a massive effect on everyday life. But we’re here to help.”
Sarah Fowler, Joint clinical lead, SNELCAS, said: “We are delighted to be able to refer our patients into Citizens Advice for non-clinical support.
We have run extensive digital, bus and billboard campaigns throughout Suffolk and north east Essex to raise awareness of the condition and have linked in with voluntary sector partners to help spread the word to different communities. We are grateful to our colleagues at Citizens Advice for helping to amplify these messages further and empower more people with the knowledge to seek the right support.”
For more information, please visit:
Suffolk and North East Essex Long COVID Assessment Service (SNELCAS)
The best way to protect yourself against COVID-19 is to get vaccinated. Find out if you are eligible by visiting www.sneevaccine.org.uk where you can also find an up-to-date list of local walk-in clinics. You can also book your appointment by calling 119.
Notes to editors
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Citizens Advice West Suffolk. is a member of the national charity Citizens Advice; the network of independent local Citizens Advice charities across England and Wales; the Citizens Advice consumer service; and the Witness Service.
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We offer confidential, impartial advice online, over the phone, and in person, for free.
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We offer advice on money, relationships and family, housing, goods and services, benefits and tax credits, employment, discrimination and legal matters
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In 2023 Citizens Advice West Suffolk helped 5,418 with 28,588 issues
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Citizens Advice West Suffolk service staff are supported by trained volunteers, working at our 5 offices in Bury St Edmunds, Haverhill, Newmarket, Mildenhall and Brandon.
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You can get consumer advice from the Citizens Advice consumer service on 0808 223 1133 or 0808 223 1144 for Welsh language speakers.
