A LONG Covid ‘pathway’, including an assessment hub in Liverpool, is being developed for Cheshire and Merseyside patients.

The development was revealed at Thursday’s (April 15) NHS Cheshire clinical commissioning group (CCG) governing body.

“This pathway is designed to support patients with symptoms of Covid-19 lasting more than 12 weeks and is based on National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance,” a pre-meeting report said.

It added that “one percent of patients with Covid-19 are estimated to have symptoms after 12 weeks of developing the illness.”

However, CCG board member and GP Lesley Appleton has criticised the location of the centre, claiming it is too far for eastern Cheshire residents to travel.

She also said that she believed that ‘one per cent’ figure in the report should be closer to ‘one in ten’.

In response, Tracey Cole, the CCG’s executive director of strategy and partnership, said: “There are options for our patients to have virtual access to clinics. We have got that commission in place.

“I think it is early days to evaluate that but the principles are key to make sure we know it will be successful.”

A more in-depth report will be presented to the CCG governing body at the next meeting in May 2021.