In early 2025, a report from Long Covid Support & Long Covid Kids revealed that specialist Long Covid services across the UK were shutting down or at risk of closure. According to data on Long COVID Support’s website in March last year:
“At its peak, there were over 120 Long Covid services nationwide, but now:
- Only 46 have confirmed they will remain open.
- 31 are under review.
- 24 have already closed or are set to close.
- 20 did not respond.
Quality of care is also a major concern:
28% of adults & 26% of children with Long Covid told us they had never received an in-person or remote consultation – despite NHS guidelines requiring physician-led care.”
Now in March 2026, “as the NHS in the North East and Cumbria prepares to close its last dedicated long Covid clinics this month”, BBC News has reported on the lived experience of Dr Susannah Thompson from Blyth in Northumberland, who contracted the virus in 2020 while treating Covid-19 patients.
“The former GP said: “I struggle to have a conversation. I’ve lost my thinking ability and short-term memory. I think that’s one of the hardest things.”
The mother-of-two said she had an active lifestyle before contracting the virus, but now had to manage her energy each day just to do basic tasks.”
