Young individuals affected by severe symptoms due to long COVID have expressed feelings of being neglected and mentioned having to "fight" for access to National Health Service assistance.
Kaylee, 17 years old, was a talented gymnast with aspirations of competing for her nation. She contracted the virus when she turned 12 and continues to face issues such as dizziness and difficulty breathing. These ongoing problems have led to her missing out on schooling and forced her to abandon the athletic pursuit she cherished so much.
According to the Office for National Statistics, two million individuals in the UK are affected by long COVID.
The Welsh government announced an increase in funds aimed at assisting individuals affected by the prolonged health issues caused by the virus.
Kaylee, from Cross Keys in Caerphilly county, vividly recalls being bed-ridden for three days when she was 12 after a sudden dizzy spell caused her to fall and hit her head.
Initially, the doctors were unable to determine the reason for her sickness; it wasn't until she turned 13 that they managed to diagnose her correctly.
She mentioned her symptoms consisted of "feeling dizzy at times, occasional shortness of breath, a sense of lethargy, discomfort in my chest and ribs, along with experiencing mental cloudiness occasionally."
Kaylee's mother, Sarah, mentioned that the initial mental and physical assistance Kaylee got from the local health board's Post-Covid Recovery service was excellent.
However, she mentioned that Kaylee hadn't visited an NHS specialist doctor in two years.
Sarah stated, "I've made attempts to reach out lately but haven’t received any reply."
I find this truly disheartening; I believe the clinicians feel they have done all they possibly could—she has already been provided with every option available.
Over the last half-decade, Kaylee's parents have covered the costs of specialized oxygen therapy for her in Bristol, reportedly improving her respiratory function and vitality.
"Never did I imagine that after five years, we would remain here, and I am still uncertain about whether or when she will completely recuperate," stated Sarah.
Sarah stated that she believed a "detailed inquiry" was necessary to determine the origin of long COVID, rather than merely addressing the symptoms.
She mentioned that there’s a significant shortage of studies examining its impact on children versus adults, as well as inadequate support specifically for children.
It seems we have no alternatives left – it has been terrible.
It has been five years, and I continue to witness her suffering, feel frustrated as she misses out on experiences, and anxiously wonder how she will cope with what lies ahead.
The Aneurin Bevan health board expressed regret over Kaylee's mother's dissatisfaction with the provided care.
The announcement stated that they would be introducing a symptom management service on April 1st, offering personalized care for patients. The board mentioned that various online resources were already accessible.
"In the last 18 months, we have revamped our services to enhance accessibility and provide prompt assistance for children, parents, caregivers, and supportive adults dealing with long-term effects of COVID-19," stated a representative.
What is long Covid?
Many individuals who contract COVID-19 experience improvement within several days or weeks and typically achieve complete recovery in under three months. according to the NHS .
However, for certain individuals, the symptoms might persist or emerge over an extended period. This condition is referred to as long COVID or post-COVID-19 syndrome.
The frequently reported symptoms include severe fatigue, difficulty breathing, mental cloudiness, irregular heartbeat, lightheadedness, joint discomfort, and muscular soreness.
No official statistics are available for the number of young individuals affected by long COVID in Wales; however, the Welsh government approximates that approximately 94,000 children and adults are living with this condition.
Bethan, 20, from Pontardawe in Neath Port Talbot, was 17 and just beginning sixth-form when she caught Covid in 2021.
She mentioned having all the typical signs of a severe cold, yet despite this, she didn’t get better even after two weeks.
Bethan, who suffers from asthma, mentioned that she could hardly raise her head off the pillow for multiple days consecutively, and noted that this severely impacted her attendance in sixth form.
She was ultimately diagnosed with long COVID, but mentioned that it was a struggle to obtain assistance. She also noted that due to her age, she found herself caught between adult and pediatric services.
Thanks to her instructors, Bethan finally earned a spot at college.
She mentioned that her symptoms remained inconsistent, fluctuating from time to time, and she now considered herself disabled.
She mentioned that she experiences episodes which might last for about a week or even up to two weeks, during which she may encounter various symptoms. Alternatively, she could experience only one symptom per day or remain completely asymptomatic.
She stated that she was resolute in achieving success.
She stated, 'I have always maintained the mindset that I won’t allow it to hinder my pursuit of what I aspire to achieve.'
The Swansea Bay University Health Board expressed deep regret that Bethan felt inadequately supported during her illness.
A representative stated that since Bethan had reached 20 years of age, she could be directed to the health board's long COVID adult clinic through her general practitioner.
The spokesperson further noted, 'We consistently collect information on treatment efficacy and seek patient input to assist us in crafting new services and transforming current ones for upcoming needs.'
The charity Long Covid Kids has urged the Welsh government to allocate dedicated funds for specialized long COVID services.
Setting up a "monitoring system" might also aid in precisely determining the number of individuals impacted in Wales.
A representative stated: "The services to which the GPs are making referrals primarily focus on pediatrics, hence there aren't any medical professionals well-versed in long COVID, nor physicians capable of piecing together all aspects of this condition."
The Welsh government announced an increase in funding to assist individuals experiencing prolonged impacts of Covid-19, setting aside £8 million for this purpose, with plans to repeat this allocation.
A spokesperson stated that health boards offer personalized and customized assistance for individuals of all age groups who have long COVID through the Adferiad (Recovery) Program.
The services, which involve multiple professions and focus on communities, have been developed according to guidelines provided by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
- Study reveals significant decline in NHS Long COVID clinics.
- Ten-year-old girl battles mobility issues due to Long COVID effects
- Staff dealing with Long COVID feel abandoned and overlooked.
0 Comments