Information for journalists
The Living With Covid Recovery Programme is a rehabilitation app to aid the recovery of COVID-19 'long-haulers'. As of August 2021, Living With Covid Recovery is helping over 1,200 patients.
The tool targets patients who have been discharged but are continuing to recover and rehabilitate at home. By delivering rehabilitation completely remotely, the programme helps NHS staff support more patients than would normally be possible in a timely and cost-effective way.
Please contact our team for examples of patient case-studies, feedback from the programme's use and testimonial quotes from clinicians across different hospitals - all pre-approved for media use. Filming opportunities are also a possibility.
As of August 2021, Living With Covid Recovery is helping over 1,200 patients with their recovery across 23 clinics in 16 NHS trusts such as Barts Health NHS Trust, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, Solent NHS Trust, Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, Isle of Wight NHS Trust and more.
Examples of coverage
Press release on UCL News announcing the launch of the programme in August 2020. The app, believed to be the first such tool to be rolled out in the UK, was first given to patients from Barts Health hospitals, who had been discharged but were continuing to recover and rehabilitate at home.
'Discharged Covid-19 patients to be treated via digital technology to help deal with symptoms', The i paper, 13 August 2020
'Half of patients are suffering with ‘long Covid’ and severe symptoms up to four months after being discharged', The i paper, 13 August 2020
'Long Covid: Digital treatment programme rolled out in hospitals to help patients with chronic illness', The i paper, 6 March 2021
Press release on UCL updating on the programme's progress and its roll-out across over 10 NHS hospitals
BBC News segment (from 4 min) with a first-hand account from a Central North West London NHS physiotherapist using the programme and a Long Covid patient who has found it "really great to help me track my symptoms"
'Long Covid is making the UK a less caring society, medical expert warns', The i paper, 27 Jun 2021
Prof Elizabeth Murray, Deputy Director (Clinical) at UCL Institute of Healthcare Engineering said: “It is exciting to see the programme beginning to spread across the regions, and know that more patients experiencing the debilitating symptoms of Long-Covid can access supported rehabilitation therapy to help them recover. We know that people who are using the digital programme feel supported by their clinicians and are seeing their symptoms improve.”
Contact
Communications lead - Georgie Cade, g.cade@ucl.ac.uk
Media lead - Henry Killworth, h.killworth@ucl.ac.uk
Sophie, Long-Covid patient
"Five months after having Covid, I was still feeling very breathless and easily tired - even walks could frustratingly leave me coughing and wheezing. I started using the Living With Covid Recovery App in August 2020 and have found it very helpful in tracking my progress and building up my activity levels.
One of the most important aspects for me is the connection to support and advice from my own physiotherapist through the app, which has helped reassure me and feel that I'm not alone."
Rebecca, Long-Covid patient
"I was teaching when I caught Covid, and I'm not currently able to work – I'm still in recovery. I've had it for over a year now.
The [Living With Covid Recovery] app has helped me become more independent in my recovery. All the information I needed was on the app, and because it's an NHS app I knew I could trust it.
The app was the beacon of hope I needed at the start of my recovery."
Above: examples of screens that patients can use to track their progress through an app
