Dr. Amir Khan highlights a significant challenge faced by those experiencing long Covid: a widespread lack of understanding about the condition. He admits to feeling “really helpless” at times while treating these patients. Despite this, he emphasizes the importance of seeking medical help if symptoms arise, as there are treatment options available that can provide relief.

According to the NHS, long Covid, officially known as post-Covid syndrome, is identified when Covid-19 symptoms persist beyond twelve weeks. Common symptoms include fatigue, joint pain, shortness of breath, and brain fog. While treatments are accessible, Dr. Khan stresses the need for increased funding to enhance comprehension and management of this complex condition.

During his appearance on the Bold Politics podcast, the NHS GP and TV doctor delved into the hurdles faced in treating long Covid patients. He was asked about the potential marginalization of these individuals in public discussions and expressed deep empathy for those battling the condition, which currently lacks a definitive cure.

Dr. Amir explained to the audience, “Long Covid remains a poorly understood ailment, characterized by its multisystem complexity, affecting individuals in varied ways. It’s highly inflammatory and can trigger a range of issues simultaneously, leaving us with conditions that many are reluctant to address due to insufficient investment in understanding and managing them.”

He noted the disappearance of specialized long Covid services in many hospitals, which were often managed by respiratory teams. “Now, it seems like those services have vanished,” he remarked. “Long Covid can impact numerous areas, including the brain, lungs, skin, joints, and mental health, leading to fatigue, yet there isn’t a single group dedicated to its care.”

Dr. Amir elaborated that treating a patient with long Covid might require referrals to various specialists, such as rheumatologists for joint issues and respiratory experts for lung complications. He observed, “Many individuals who were once healthy are now severely impacted by their symptoms, losing independence and earning capacity, and we lack a comprehensive system to support them.”

The doctor continued: “We’re talking about adults, but it can affect children as well. And so, it’s a real problem. They come in, I feel really helpless when I see them, to be honest, because I know it’s one of those consultations where I know, yes, I can listen to them and yes, I can empathise with them.

“But there’s very limited things I can do to help them because giving them painkillers isn’t going to be the long-term answer. And we don’t know enough about the condition to know which specific medication might help reverse some of their symptoms. And that’s a massive issue for them. So they have been left in limbo.”