It has been a hugely gratifying and humbling experience to get the chance to set up the Longcovid Service for Berkshire and work with a great team from primary and community care. We have learnt a lot and are continuing to learn as we help our patients suffering from Longcovid and offer them support, a listening ear, appropriate testing and treatments where available in a trauma informed manner.
In this episode, I speak to my consultant colleague Dr Blandina Blackburn, Occupational Health Consultant. Dr.Blackburn has been working with staff at the Royal Berkshire for many years and is a hugely respected national figure in Occupational Health and represented her profession at the highest levels.
We had recently collaborated to write an article for the Journal Occupational Health@work. In the podcast episode, I wrongly mention it as an editorial so apologies for the error. Please find the link at https://www.atworkpartnership.co.uk/journal/issue/17_5/contents/long-covid-and-its-implications-at-work
She has been invaluable in providing a clear sounding board for many patients who havent been able to go back to work and this includes a large number of NHS workforce. There is a lot of confusion prevailing right now as to how return to work can be established when we are still learning about the long terms effects of Post Covid so I am glad that Blandina can inform us about the complexities and suggest a way forward for now. Rulings are likely to change and we might have her coming back once we know more about the condition and laws change and courts make further announcements.
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The Pain Speak podcast is presented by Dr Deepak Ravindran, a full time NHS Consultant specialising in Pain, Anaesthesia, MSK and Lifestyle Medicine. Dr Ravindran is also the author of the book, 'The Pain Free Mindset' and is the Lead for the Longcovid service and the Pain medicine Service at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust.
Get in touch:
Twitter: @deepakravindra5
Instagram: drdeepakravindran
Website: www.deepakravindran.co.uk
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/DrDeepakRavindran
Order a copy of the Pain Free Mindset here
Mixed and edited by Rob Cao at https://dynamiqgroup.co.uk/
Huge Thanks to the The Podcast Coach for helping me set this all up. For high quality, bespoke podcast coaching and production at www.thepodcastcoach.co.uk