Opinion: Johnson highlights the need for rehabilitation after COVID-19
As a rehabilitation medicine specialist, I can’t help but observe British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s discharge from hospital to his Chequers country estate as the ultimate home rehabilitation destination.
COVID-19 leads to pneumonia that might damage the lungs. And spending a long time in bed trying to recover can diminish a person's strength and independence, especially if they are older.Additionally, patients who spend a long time on ventilators are at risk of developing Post ICU Syndrome, which can result in cognitive impairment and neuromuscular weakness in 25 per cent of ICU survivors.
Whether real or perceived, breathlessness is terrifying for respiratory patients and their carers. Anxiety around breathlessness often results in stable respiratory patients re-presenting to already swamped emergency departments. One answer is having more rehabilitation teams – comprising doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, social workers, pharmacists and dieticians – treat patients in their own homes. This can be done via telehealth and online platforms, which allows services to be delivered in a way that minimises risk to health professionals and doesn’t further deplete personal protection equipment.
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