NICE and the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) have today (5 October 2020) announced they will work with the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) to develop a guideline on persistent effects of Covid-19 (Long Covid) on patients.
NICE Announcement 05 October 2020
Dr Charles Shepherd, Hon. Medical Adviser, ME Association:
At this stage I know nothing more about this proposed new NICE and SIGN guideline on Post/Long-Covid, or the membership of the group that will produce it, than the information that has been provided by NICE (below).
I was however asked to brief Matt Hancock's office 10 days ago on Post/Long-Covid and the relationship to Post-Covid fatigue syndromes and Post-Covid ME/CFS.
During the ministerial briefing I stressed that people with Post/Long-Covid urgently need a high standard of multidisciplinary management and support, especially with regard to appropriate guidance on activity management that does not involve graded exercise therapy. This needs to be easily accessed through primary care and GPs.
The Secretary of State's office also received a copy of the current ME Association information and guidance on Post/Long-Covid Fatigue Syndromes and Post-Covid ME/CFS.
Further guidance from NICE and SIGN is expected in due course.
- Free leaflets about Covid-19, the lockdown, employment, benefits, infection prevention, vulnerable status, Post-Covid and ME/CFS management, can be found in the ME Association website shop.
Further information:
- NICE & SIGN announce latest rapid Covid-19 guideline will address Long Covid | 05 October 2020
- NICE cautions against using graded exercise therapy for patients recovering from COVID-19 | 21 July 2020
- Clinician’s Letter to NICE Results in Statement on Graded Exercise for Post-Covid-Syndrome | 13 July 2020
NICE and SIGN Announcement 05 October 2020
NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) and SIGN (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network) will develop the guideline jointly with the RCGP, alongside an independent cross-specialty clinical group.
People have reported persistent symptoms of Covid-19 regardless of how ill they were initially or whether they were hospitalised. Longer term impacts can include on-going shortness of breath, fatigue, heart, lung, kidney, neurological and musculoskeletal problems.
It is estimated there could be as many as 60,000 people in the UK who probably have Long Covid.1
The guideline will address, among other things, a formal definition of the disease, how to identify on-going symptoms and a definition of best practice investigation and treatment options to support the management of the condition across diverse communities.
Paul Chrisp, director of the Centre for Guidelines at NICE, said:
“There is growing evidence to suggest Covid-19 is a multi-system disease that for many people involves persistent symptoms with longer term impacts on their health. It is important, therefore, that people requiring ongoing support and treatment are identified quickly and are supported by the NHS throughout every stage of their journey. We also want to ensure that clinicians have clear guidance on how best to support patients struggling with this newly emerging disease.”
Roberta James, Programme Lead for SIGN, said:
“National guidance in this emerging field will help to align services with the needs of people who may be at risk of receiving inconsistent care. The guideline will support health and care services with recommendations on monitoring, testing, treatment options and the provision of advice and support for those who are experiencing these long-term effects.”
Professor Martin Marshall, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, said:
“Treating or managing any new virus or condition is a challenge for healthcare professionals whose priority is always trying to deliver the best possible care for their patients. The College is delighted to be working with both NICE and SIGN to develop this guideline. It aims to support GPs and other healthcare professionals to ensure all patients with long term effects of Covid-19, including those diagnosed in the community irrespective of whether they received a positive test or not, can be cared for in the best possible way, based on the latest evidence.”
It is expected that the guideline on the longer term patient impact of Covid-19 will be published by the end of the year.
- Written evidence from the House of Lords’ inquiry ‘Long COVID: Evidence, recommendations and priority research questions (COV0050).’
There is growing evidence to suggest Covid-19 is a multi-system disease that for many people involves persistent symptoms with longer term impacts on their health.
Paul Chrisp, director of the Centre for Guidelines at NICE
National guidance in this emerging field will help to align services with the needs of people who may be at risk of receiving inconsistent care.
Roberta James, Programme Lead for SIGN
It aims to support GPs and other healthcare professionals to ensure all patients with long term effects of Covid-19… can be cared for in the best possible way, based on the latest evidence.
Professor Martin Marshall, Chair of the Royal College of GPs
The ME Association
Please support our vital work
We are a national charity working hard to make the UK a better place for people whose lives have been devastated by an often-misunderstood neurological disease.
If you would like to support our efforts and ensure we are able to inform, support, advocate and invest in biomedical research, then please donate today.
Just click the image opposite or visit our JustGiving page for one-off donations or to establish a regular payment. You can even establish your own fundraising event.
Or why not join the ME Association as a member and be part of our growing community? For a monthly (or annual) subscription you will also receive ME Essential – quite simply the best M.E. magazine!
ME Association Registered Charity Number 801279