A long Covid clinic is set to offer a referral service in Lancashire as experts warn more and more people are experiencing long-term health effects as a result of contracting the coronavirus. 

The clinic is among a further 12 long Covid clinics to be opened across the country in the next few months, as the NHS work to diagnose and assess those experiencing 'long Covid'. 

Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust said the services will be offered online, with patients triaged and then referred to their nearest Primary Care teams.

A spokesperson for the Trust said: “For Lancashire and South Cumbria, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT) have been appointed as the lead provider, and now has a long Covid service available for Primary Care teams to refer into.”

Minister of State for Mental Health, Suicide Prevention and Patient Safety, Nadine Dorries told the Commons on Thursay that there are now 69 centres operating across England where hundreds of patients are already receiving treatment.

She said: "These centres are assessing and diagnosing people experiencing long-term health effects as a result of Covid-19 infection.

“A further 12 sites are earmarked to launch in 2021, and they will in the East Midlands, Lancashire, Cornwall and the Isle of Wight.

“The NHS and wider scientific community are currently working to better understand the disease, the course of the Covid-19 virus – including symptoms, severity and duration – long-term effects and how best to support recovery."

News about the new site comes at a time when experts are claiming many younger people, who were previously fitter and healthier are experiencing lingering symptoms from the virus.

Md Dorries added: “And Nice (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) and UKRI (UK Research and Innovation) has invested £8.4 million into a post-hospitalisation Covid-19 study at the University of Leicester.

"This is one of the world’s largest comprehensive studies into the long-term health impacts of Covid-19 on hospitalised patients.

“The study aims to better understand and improve long-term outcomes for survivors following hospitalisation with Covid-19.”