Anger over closure of long Covid service

Long Covid patients say they are being "thrown under the bus" after the decision to close Mid and South Essex's only specialist service.

The long Covid clinics and outreach bus run by Provide CIC will shut in February after the NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board withdrew funding.

The board told councillors that referrals had fallen and "most patients" recovered within four to nine months.

But campaigners, and those with long Covid, said the move set a "dangerous precedent" and risked leaving vulnerable people without expert help.

Antony Loveless, 58, from Southend, said he caught Covid in January 2021 while working at the London Gateway port in Thurrock. Since then, he has lost four stone, walks with a stick, and uses a disabled badge.

He said the long Covid team was "essential", despite limited provision.

"The clinics were the one place we could go where they understood, they were empathetic, kind and helpful. It just feels like we've all been thrown under the bus," he said.

"If you have nobody to support you, you're on your own."

The ICB said the service was no longer taking new patients, as ringfenced government funding had ended - and it would close on 28 February.

It said care would be available through GPs.

But Mr Loveless fears this will put too much pressure on local surgeries.

"My own experience of doctors is they were very dismissive, like long Covid didn't exist," he said.

Sharon Hadley, a GP who works within the long Covid service, said: "The statement that general practice can do what the service does is naive. With general practice under the strains it is currently under, that is highly unlikely to happen.

"These patients are ill and are being thrown to the wolves.

"We've helped many patients back to work and most back to meaningful, functional lives. I've had people phoning up in tears at the difference we've made."

The ICB told councillors that "most patients" recover within four to nine months. But a recent review in The Lancet said 71% of people with the condition had symptoms for more than a year.

Dr Lucy Moore, chairperson of the Long Covid SOS charity, said: "If the motivation behind the closure is an ideology that long Covid is a thing of the past or over in months, it sets a concerning precedent.

"The condition is chronically under-researched, misunderstood and under-resourced."

The NHS in Mid and South Essex said referrals had fallen by 60% in a year and there were just 18 in April 2025.

But Dr Margaret O'Hara, trustee of Long Covid Support, said: "Referrals have declined because Covid has been de-prioritised and very few people still test.

"It's difficult for a GP to diagnose long Covid if the patient doesn't know if they had Covid.

"Long Covid has not gone away."

She added: "It's disappointing to see health authorities joining in the general apathy and lack of concern instead of refusing to give up on their local populations."

Tom Abell, chief executive of the NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System, said: "We know that living with long Covid can be really difficult.

"Patients will continue to be supported, with GPs referring them to the right services based on their symptoms.

"We understand some people take longer to recover, and we want to reassure them that support will still be available through mainstream NHS pathways after the standalone service closes."

Elsewhere, NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board has retained specialist long Covid services by merging them with clinics for suspected ME and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Nerinda Evans, director of strategic programmes, said: "By combining expertise, we can ensure patients receive earlier diagnosis and coordinated care from a specialist multidisciplinary team."

Integrated care boards run by the local NHS are given funding for adult Long Covid services.

A spokesperson for NHS England said the integrated care boards were responsible "for providing support in the way that best meets the needs of their local communities".

The Department of Health and Social Care was approached for comment.

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