BBC health journalist Laura Foster can’t get the first days of the pandemic out of her head; the stunned silence of the newsroom as the first lockdown was announced, the chaos and noise at the supermarket and the empty streets of London.
But even though she was a reporter covering every twist and turn of the story, she still can’t remember the first time she heard about long Covid.
The world was so engrossed by the immediate threat that few paid attention to what was happening around the edges; the people whose lives didn’t move on after that little red line disappeared from their test and whose symptoms never went away.
And that problem was getting bigger and bigger by the day.
We visit the UK’s very first long Covid clinic where healthcare workers started learning about this life-shattering disease in the hospital car park - and we find out why recovering from long Covid is a lot like training for the Olympics.
What did we know back then – and what do we know now? And are we really any closer to seeing the end of long Covid?
Details of organisations offering information and support with long Covid are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline.
Presenter: Laura Foster Producer: Gerry Holt Editor: Martin Smith Production co-ordinator: Jonathan Harris
Over-the-counter prescriptions, Virtual reality in rehabilitation, Sore throats and antibiotics
Why hernias, hands and varicose veins might not be treated on the NHS
Preventable deaths, Poo bank, Waterbirths
NHS under pressure, Breast cancer prevention, Lactose intolerance
Paracetamol, Prostate and HIFU, Uncertainty - Oxygen and Heart Attacks
Prostate Cancer
Dying at Home, Familial Hypercholesterolaemia FH, Delirium
Meningitis ACWY vaccine, Testosterone for women, Allotments on prescription, Heart failure and iron
Ministrokes, Midwife study, Cyclic vomiting syndrome, Noise in intensive care
Breast cancer, Alcoholism, CRPS, Generics
Welsh patient power, Liquid biopsies, Food allergies, Dosing errors
Obesity and smoking, Blood pressure, ADHD
Why Becomea doctor? 3. A Matter of Life and Death
Why Become a Doctor? 2. All Work and No Play?
Why Become a Doctor? 1. The Golden Age
Personalised Medicine: Dose By Design
Zika in UK, Hip arthroscopy, Limits of cancer treatment
Statins in the media, Unusual neurological itch, The hunger hormone, Viagra
Braintraining and dementia; Cluster headaches; Cancer rehab; #hellomynameis
Papilloedema; Cardiac death in sport; Diagnosing early miscarriage; Warfarin
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