A mobile clinic which tests for long Covid and other lung conditions will be holding sessions in Essex this month, after launching in the Maldon district as a pilot at the beginning of February.

The Ford Transit van has been fitted with key equipment for carrying out spirometry tests and health checks, and aims to visit residents who might be at higher risk of illness or cannot otherwise access an NHS clinic.

Spirometry assesses lung capacity and can help diagnose lung conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the long-term effects of Covid.

It requires patients to breathe into a device which measures their lung capacity.

The van offered its first spirometry tests in Burnham on 7 February.

It is the same vehicle used for the Essex Vax Van, which offered mobile vaccination clinics to residents in rural communities and delivered over 100 vaccines to Burnham residents across sessions held in February.

Dr Sharon Hadley, clinical lead at Mid and South Essex Health and Care Partnership (HCP), said: "We are launching a similar outreach model to help reach underserved groups to make sure they get the right care for breathlessness linked to long Covid.

"Many people are reporting ongoing breathing difficulties. With a decline in spirometry testing during the pandemic, the diagnosis of conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is estimated to have fallen by half in the past year.

"Tens of thousands of people across the country could be living with the serious condition without knowing.

"In the same way that Covid-19 posed a greater threat to certain communities, we need to get out and find those most at risk and make sure people have the knowledge, care and treatment they need to avoid serious life-limiting illness."

Drop-in sessions will be available at the following times and locations:

- Monday, 14 March, 12.30pm - 4pm: Basildon Sporting Village