Dr Amir Khan has explained why people with long Covid may experience different symptoms, breaking down how the condition can affect multiple symptoms. Long Covid, or post-Covid syndrome, occurs when Covid-19 symptoms last for longer than twelve weeks, according to the NHS.

Signs of long Covid may include fatigue, joint pain, shortness of breath, or brain fog. While treatment is available, and anyone with health concerns should talk to a GP, Dr Amir Khansays more investment is needed to better understand and manage the condition.

The NHS GP and TV doctor spoke about the difficulties involved with treating long Covid patients during an appearance on the Bold Politics podcast. During the conversation, Dr Amir was asked about long Covid patients who might feel they have been 'left behind' in public discourse, and the doctor said he empathises with patients dealing with the condition, which currently has no cure.

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Dr Amir said: "Long Covid is a really poorly understood condition, and it's a multi-system complex issue, and it will affect everyone differently. You know, everyone has a different version of long Covid because it is so multisystem, it is so inflammatory. It can cause so many different things to go wrong at the same time, and you're left with these conditions that nobody really wants to touch because there hasn't been enough investment in the understanding, but also the management."

He claimed: "There used to be a long Covid service at most hospitals where it was run by the respiratory team, perhaps, and they would take care of it. All of that seems to have just melted away. And because, like I said, long Covid can affect your brain, your lungs, your skin, your joints, it can affect so many things, your mental health, but also how fatigued you are, we haven't got one group of people looking after it."

The GP explained that if he saw a patient presenting with long Covid, he would need to refer them to multiple departments. For instance, someone might need to see a rheumatologist for joint pain and a respiratory specialist for their lungs."

Dr Amir said it is a 'real problem' and that he feels 'really helpless' when helping patients with the condition. "We've got these people who were really well and healthy a few years ago who are now, you know, very affected by their symptoms, and a lot of them have lost their independence and their ability to earn as a result of it. We haven't got anything in place to look after them."

He added: "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."

More information about symptoms is available on the NHS website. Information for anyone affected by long Covid is available on www.longcovidsos.org and Long COVID SOS: resources.