A support service helping people in Wales living with the long-term effects of COVID-19 will benefit from a further £5m of Welsh Government funding.
The extra funding follows the first six-month review of the Adferiad (Recovery) programme, which found it was treating and managing the needs of people who had sought help for their debilitating symptoms.
Rehabilitation services, which have developed using this model, include the Wellness with Welsh National Opera long-COVID programme, which accepts referrals from health boards.
It is an online breathing and singing programme for people experiencing long-COVID in Wales.
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The pilot programme is being delivered in partnership between WNO and Betsi Cadwaladr, Cardiff and Vale, and Cwm Taf Morgannwg university health boards.
Welsh National Opera’s director of programmes and engagement Emma Flatley said: “The response to the programme has been amazing and we expect the formal evaluation results, which are due shortly, to support this.
“The two pilot programmes have shown overwhelmingly positive results in terms of people’s health and breathing and also improvements for the participants psychologically.
“The further funding available to health boards for rehabilitation services will enable programmes such as ours to continue and potentially expand to reach more people across Wales.”
Health boards will benefit from this further £5m, which will be used to continue delivering newly-developed rehabilitation services, enabling people to access programmes, such as the one provided by WNO.
Health Minister Eluned Morgan said: “We are continuing to learn more about the long-term effects of COVID and how it can affect people in different ways.
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“We believe our approach of treating, supporting and managing people through our unique service model is the most efficient and effective way of achieving the best outcomes for people experiencing Long-COVID.
“Innovative programmes like the one being run by WNO show significant benefits to health and wellbeing."
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