The Long Covid Syndrome Service is a multidisciplinary, integrated team made up of medics, psychologists, nurses, occupational therapists and physiotherapists.
The service aims to support and empower patients to understand their condition, develop the tools to self-manage symptoms and improve quality of life. The service provides individualised care tailored around each patients symptoms and needs, and also offer a group treatment. As the national understanding of Long Covid Syndrome is constantly evolving, we work closely with our patients to ensure their care is informed by the latest evidence and all relevant investigations are explored when assessing symptoms.
Click on the names below to meet our colleagues in the Long Covid team:
Role: Principal Clinical Psychologist
About: Dr Joanne Sanderson is an experienced Clinical Psychologist and is a specialist in Physical Health Clinical Psychology. She has extensive experience leading and delivering psychology services within various physical health departments, including Cardiology, Surgery, Pain Management, Dermatology and Chronic Fatigue Services. Dr Sanderson currently works within the Long Covid Service at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals Foundation NHS Trust. She is passionate about team working within the NHS and sees psychology as an important component of this for patients living with challenging physical health conditions or facing challenging treatments.
Dr Sanderson trained at Lancaster University (DCLinPsych), qualifying in 2003 after 10 years in the NHS, and has nearly 30 years experience in the NHS. Dr Sanderson has maintained links with psychology training in the North West, supervising clinical psychologists in training, and has valued psychology links across the country. Dr Sanderson is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council that regulates psychologists.
Her research interests have been the psychological impacts of physical health treatments and related considerations for psychologically-informed patient care. Dr Sanderson is looking forward to research opportunities with the Long Covid specialism and feels privileged to be contributing to the evolving knowledge of this new condition.
Role: Clinical Psychologist
About: Dr Hannah Droscher is a Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registered Clinical Psychologist. She works with both the Integrated Stroke & Community Neurorehabilitation Service and the Covid Service in Blackpool. Hannah trained at Canterbury Christ Church University in Kent and she is a fully Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society (BPS). Hannah is also a qualified mindfulness-based interventions teacher and a registered applied psychology practice supervisor.
Before joining the team in Blackpool, Hannah worked in acute, rehabilitation and community services. She has supported adults with a range of neuropsychological problems, including those associated with learning disabilities; autism spectrum conditions; traumatic brain injuries; stroke; and multiple sclerosis. Alongside clinical roles in the NHS, private and charity sectors, Hannah has also worked in academia and has contributed to MSc and Doctorate courses as a guest lecturer.
Her research interests include psychological changes following trauma, neuropsychological and vocational rehabilitation, and group therapy. She is currently working towards the BPS Division of Neuropsychology's Specialist Registration in Clinical Neuropsychology.