About our service
Formerly the Myalgia Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Post-Covid service.
We provide a service for people who have ongoing problems - primarily fatigue, with the following possible diagnoses:
- ME/CFS Service
- Post-Covid 19 Syndrome
- Post Viral Fatigue
- Complex Fatigue (with no underlying diagnosis as the cause for fatigue)
We are a multi-professional team including Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Psychology, GP and Consultant doctors, with support from our dedicated care-coordinator and admin team.
We follow evidence-based practice for all our assessments, management and rehabilitation to support a patient’s recovery. Find out more below about the support we offer.
- Understanding and education of their condition
- Medical assessment and review
- Rehabilitation
- Group educational and support programme
- Psychological educational and support programme
- 1:1 therapy support
- Vocational rehabilitation including support for work and study
- Signposting and information to other sources of reliable support
We work in close collaboration with other agencies including Wellbeing for Life, County Durham Resilience Service, Darlington Living Well Team, the ENO Breathe Programme (English National Opera Society), and the ME Association. We also work closely with other departments including Speech and Language Therapy, and other medical specialists including Ear Nose and Throat and the Respiratory Department.
How to access our services
Please discuss your symptoms with your GP or hospital consultant and ask for a referral to our service. Every person who attends our service will have an initial assessment and we will create a personalised care plan specific to meet their individual needs. We provide face to face, telephone or video call appointments as well as group work and email support.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome useful links
Post-COVID Syndrome workbook and videos
Living well with long covid workbook.
- Post-COVID Recovery Session 1: Introduction & What is post-COVID?
- Post-COVID Recovery Session 2: Breathing & Breathlessness in post-COVID.
- Post-COVID Recovery Session 3: Fatigue Management in post-COVID.
- Post-COVID Recovery Session 4: Stress & Mental health in post-COVID.
- Post-COVID Recovery Session 5: Brain fog in post-COVID.
- Post-COVID Recovery Session 6: Diet & Nutrition for recovery from post-COVID
- Post-COVID Recovery Session 7: Self-management and setback strategies in post-COVID.
- Post-COVID Recovery Session 8: Relaxation techniques for Post-COVID recovery.
Post-Covid external links for support
- Homerton University Hospital. ACERS: Post COVID-19 patient information pack. Resource with help on managing breathlessness, cough, fatigue, diet, physical activity and emotional impact of long covid
- Health Education England website with links to resources for managing Long Covid
- Covid recovery puzzle films
- The Yoga for Life Project
- PoTS UK
- Support for older people
- Support for workers returning to the workplace post covid.
- Advice for managers supporting staff returning to work post covid.
- Short videos created by Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy team in Derby. Can be really helpful for patients around work:
- Support for people with smell and taste disorders
- Smell training
- Life Kitchen: a not-for-profit cookery school for people whose taste has been affected by cancer or cancer treatment. Also teaches people who is experiencing an altered sense of taste due to Covid.
- ICU Steps: the intensive care support charity.
- Citizens Advice Bureau. Helping people through the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS). Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for employers and employees.
- Carers UK. Coronavirus guidance.
- Social Care Institute for Excellence. Supporting people who are isolated or at risk during the COVID-19 crisis.
- Church of England coronavirus and faith
- Catholic coronavirus site
- Sikh Helpline. Coronavirus update.
- Jewish Care. Online and local resource library.
- Muslim Council of Britain. COVID-19 guidance for Muslim communities.
- Ubele. COVID-19 resource page for African diaspora communities.
- Greater Manchester Centre for Voluntary Organisation. Support and resources for BAME Communities
- Home - BAME HUB-UK NETWORK