New funding widens access to Long Covid services in Wales
The Minister for Health and Social Services Eluned Morgan has announced increased funding to widen access to Wales ’ Long Covid services , including for people experiencing other long-term conditions .
Annual funding will increase to £ 8.3 million for Adferiad ( Recovery ) services . The community-based rehabilitation services will continue to support people with Long Covid , but they will also be expanded to people with other long-term conditions whose rehabilitation and recovery are similar , for example , people with myalgic encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome ( ME / CFS ), fibromyalgia and other post-viral associated conditions .
The funding will also continue to support the self-management COVID recovery app and the All-Wales guideline for the management of Long Covid .
Adferiad services provide diagnosis , treatment , rehabilitation and care for people experiencing long-term effects of COVID-19 . They have been designed to respond to the particular needs of each individual while providing care as close to home as possible .
People are supported by multi-professional teams , including psychologists , physiotherapists , occupational therapists and nurses . If more specialist care is needed , people can be referred for further help and support .
Since the launch of the Adferiad programme in 2021 , more than £ 10 million has been invested to support the development of these community-based integrated multi-professional rehabilitation services and recovery services in all health board areas . It has also helped to develop workforce skills and expertise .
The latest review of the programme provides further assurance that Adferiad services continue to meet the needs of people who are accessing them . Most people reported an improved quality of life and a positive experience of the services they received .
Investing in Adferiad services to support people [ living with ] the long-term effects of COVID-19 infection has been and remains a priority .”
The Health Minister said : ‘ Investing in Adferiad services to support people [ living with ] the long-term effects of COVID-19 infection has been and remains a priority . We have a valuable community asset as a result of developing these services , which we must continue to nurture and capitalise on this .
‘ We know many people with other , long-term conditions have reported feeling “ misunderstood ” and “ invisible ”. I hope by widening access to Adferiad services we can better support people with conditions such as ME / CFS and fibromyalgia to get a diagnosis , manage their symptoms and access rehabilitation services , which are vital in helping improve physical and mental health and wellbeing .
‘ I am committed to expanding capacity in our community and primary care services . This recurrent investment , which complements other funding to expand primary and community care capacity provided to the NHS , local authorities and regional partnership boards supports our ambition to improve access to health professionals and further develop community care services .’
Pioneering Chelsea breaks international new ground
A Nigerian occupational therapist , who funded her degree by making and selling traditional African cuisine overseas , has become a trust ’ s first AHP to be appointed through an NHS international recruitment programme .
Chelsea Osaheniro Asenoguan has joined Rotherham Doncaster
Chelsea Osaheniro Asenoguan
and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust ( RDaSH ) as an OT , to work at Mulberry House , part of Scunthorpe ’ s Great Oaks Mental Health Unit .
Chelsea recently arrived in the UK from Nigeria , having initially trained at the Institute of Health Technology in Benin City , Edo state and later worked at the neuropsychiatry hospital Aro Abeokuta as an intern .
Her determination to expand her therapy qualifications led to Chelsea moving to Cyprus to study for a master ’ s degree in occupational therapy , which she completed in 2021 , after self-funding the cost of the course through her culinary skills .
‘ There is a large Nigerian ex-pat community in Cyprus , so I started making and selling traditional African dishes ,’ she told OTnews .
Chelsea is currently based in accommodation with other international recruits at the trust ’ s Doncaster headquarters and will soon move across to her new role in Scunthorpe .
She added : ‘ Initially , I wanted to be a nurse , but during a clinical posting in paediatrics in Nigeria I witnessed a child having a seizure and their parent didn ’ t know what to do . I wanted to play a part in the rehabilitation journey , so I changed my career direction as a result of that experience . I ’ m now looking forward to moving forward with my career in the NHS .’
Chelsea is the first of nine allied health professionals to be appointed to RDaSH through the NHS international recruitment programme . RDaSH Assistant Director for AHPs , Noma Makhanda , said : ‘ I am delighted to welcome Chelsea to the trust , where her expertise and experience will be a great asset to the team in North Lincolnshire .
‘ Occupational therapists like Chelsea see beyond diagnoses and limitations and focus on the individual ’ s goals , hopes and aspirations . They work with people to recommend adjustments to the way they live by looking at the relationship between the activities they do every day , the challenges they face , and their environment . They are key members of the NHS .’
12 OTnews April 2023