Covid-19 patients who have been ventilated in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) or Respiratory High Dependency Unit (HDU) can now take part in a rehabilitation programme- the first of its kind in Wales according to the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board.  The Royal Gwent Hospital’s respiratory team set it up to support and aid the recovery of formerly ventilated Covid-19 patients after they leave their care.

The programme aims to get patients back to where they want to be, both mentally and physically, following an extended period in ICU or Respiratory HDU. Longer stays in hospital ICU can have a significant impact on a patient’s physical functioning and quality of life.

The eight-week programme to support 40 patients brings together a range of specialist services under one roof.  Dr Martha Scott, Clinical Director for Respiratory Services and Lead Clinician, Dr Sara Fairbairn, helped to set up the project.

Dr Scott. said: “Aneurin Bevan University Health Board is pleased to be able to offer a new collaborative post Covid-19 rehabilitation programme, for those that have experienced critical illness resultant from Covid-19 infection. This is the first bespoke post Covid-19 programme that is to be offered in Wales.”

Dr Sara Fairbairn added: “This has been enabled due to dynamic multidisciplinary team working across a number of specialities including, respiratory, critical care, physiotherapist, psychology, dietetics and OT. We hope this allows the best recovery possible for these patients.”

The programme takes place at the Geraint Thomas National Velodrome of Wales, Newport. It runs twice a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays) with two 90-minute sessions per day. An individual patient attends once a week in a group of ten patients.