Patients who were hospitalised with Covid-19 are being helped by a special rehabilitation programme.
InS:PIRE, which stands for Intensive Care Recovery: Supporting and Promoting Independence and Return to Employment, has been running across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde since 2014.
Now coronavirus survivors are taking part ina five-week treatment plan to help them combat some of the physical and physiological impacts of ICU treatment like reduced mobility, depression, anxiety and low self-esteem – all of which slow down recovery progress.
Barrhead man Tam McCue is one of the first cohort of Covid-19 survivors to be enrolled on the programme.
Tam, 64, spent two weeks in ICU earlier this year as a result of the virus, and though he survived, he has been in recovery ever since and recognises that a long journey lies ahead.
Taxi driver Tam said: “I lived an active lifestyle before the virus, and then when I caught it, I spent a long time in ICU, completely immobile, which took its toll.
“Now, though I’ve been discharged, even three months later, doing the basics can still take it out of me and I recognise it’ll be a long time before I’m anywhere near back to where I was before.
“InS:PIRE has given me a strong grounding to get to where I want to be, and the team has been excellent in providing advice and support and even though they have to be delivered online, the clinics have been really helpful and I’m sure will help many other patients like myself in the future.”
The programme consists of a mixture of individual and group clinics taking place over Zoom and Near Me.
These provide survivors with peer support groups to share their experiences and learn from others, with specialist teams guiding the sessions and delivering self-care advice and education.
Tam previously opened up about his covid experience for an interview with Fiona Walker on BBC Reporting Scotland in May.
Dr Lisa Gemmell, ICU Consultant at Paisley’s Royal Alexandra Hospital, said: “While ICU provides life-saving treatments for patients, it can take a significant emotional and physical toll on people.
“We know that Covid-19 patients admitted to ICU can be here for a sustained period of time, which means the recovery process is likely going to be a lengthy and difficult journey for many.
“The InS:PIRE programme provides a well-established and crucial means of support for these patients once they have been discharged from hospital.
“We know from experience that having a peer support group in place can really help accelerate recovery and remind ICU patients they are not on their own.
“This, coupled with the multi-service approach over the five week period means patients receive a package of care made up from different disciplines working in tandem to ensure as speedy a recovery as
possible.”
