Changes to Clinical Referral Guideline model for Long COVID.
NHS in England has invested significantly in supporting people with long COVID. This includes setting up specialist post-COVID services and developing resources and information to support self-management, as well as ensuring clinical teams are equipped to support people affected by the condition.
The Long-COVID services across Devon, currently provided from Exeter, Torbay and Plymouth hospitals have seen a significant decrease in the number of patients either referred in, or being seen in the service for treatment.
Routine symptomatic testing for COVID-19 is generally no longer provided in the community settings, with testing prioritised for patients and staff in high-risk environments to manage.
Since 2024, the Long-Covid service has seen a 94% drop in referrals to the service, with the last two recorded months of 2026 seeing only 20 referrals across all Devon’s hospitals. With a clear duty to optimise the use of all NHS resources to ensure efficiency and better value for money, NHS Devon has developed a new referral process to ensure that people who visit their GP with Long-COVID symptoms get directly to the services they need for their symptoms.
From 1 April 2026, the Clinical Referral Guidelines (CRGs), which help GPs decide when to refer patients to specialist services, will change for people who visit their GP with symptoms of Long-COVID.
Changes to referral model
GPs in Devon will move away from referring people to a single Long-COVID service and instead, they will use a symptom-based referral model.
This means clinicians will assess people with ongoing post-COVID symptoms and refer them to the most appropriate care or rehabilitation service, based on their main symptoms.
This approach ensures assessment and treatment focus on the symptoms that have the greatest impact on a person’s daily life and wellbeing.
People who are thought to have symptoms consistent with Long-COVID will also be advised to self-refer to the HOPE Programme.
Anyone can access the HOPE Programme referral form online at:
HOPE Programme – MyHealth Devon, or through their GP practice.
Clinical Referral Guidelines
To read the Clinical Referral Guidelines in full click the following links:
West Respiratory: https://southwest.devonformularyguidance.nhs.uk/referral-guidance/western-locality/respiratory/post-long-covid-service-1
SD&T Respiratory: https://southwest.devonformularyguidance.nhs.uk/referral-guidance/south-devon-torbay/respiratorys/post-long-covid-service-1
South & West Covid-19: COVID-19: Post (Long) COVID service – South & West
North Respiratory: https://northeast.devonformularyguidance.nhs.uk/referral-guidance/northern-locality/respiratory/post-long-covid-service-1
East Respiratory: https://northeast.devonformularyguidance.nhs.uk/referral-guidance/eastern-locality/respiratory-eastern-locality/post-long-covid-service-1
North & East Covid-19: https://northeast.devonformularyguidance.nhs.uk/referral-guidance/covid-19/post-long-covid-service
What this means for future NHS services in Devon
The NHS in Devon is now beginning to implement its 10-Year Plan, with one of its three key priorities being a shift in care from hospitals to community and primary care settings.
This will mean that care can be provided closer to people’s homes, with services designed around the needs of local communities. Typically, neighbourhood services support populations of around 30,000 to 50,000 people.
These neighbourhood teams will bring together general practice, community health services, mental health services, social care, the voluntary sector, and public health, working together to support individuals.
Neighbourhoods will increasingly become the main place where care is delivered, supported by multidisciplinary teams, reducing the amount of time people will need to be in hospital.
This new approach aims to provide more proactive, personalised care and support another of the 10-year -plan shifts: treatment to prevention.
You can read the NHS Devon Health and Care Strategy in full on the One Devon website.
What does this mean for patients?
Patients should continue to contact their GP in the first instance when they are experiencing symptoms of Long-COVID.
GPs will continue to have access to specialist services to support patient care.
All patients currently being seen by the Long-COVID service will continue to be supported with transfer to the most appropriate specialist service based on their clinical need.
Where can people get more information?
For more information about Long-COVID, visit the NHS website or locally visit www.myhealth-devon.nhs.uk/my-condition/condition/long-covid
