Thank you to everyone who is signing, sharing and leaving positive comments on the petition. As a reminder to everyone, this isn’t just about NHS and other health and social care staff - it is about ALL key workers; the teachers, the transport workers, any key worker who had no option but to attend their job.
Some of the people who contact us don’t want their stories to be told. They just want to tell SOMEONE. I can assure you the basics are still the same:
They were a keyworker who did their job, in difficult circumstances, often without the right PPE. They were put at risk, but when they got sick, there was limited help. Many find that their employers didn’t complete incident or RIDDOR reports or say that that the infection was work-related cannot be proved. From the first wave, depending on when you were infected, many were not even tested, which throws another hurdle in any kind of attempt to get some benefits or make any kind of injury claim.
Thank you to EVERYONE for your love and support: I cannot begin to tell you how much it means to all of us here and know that we understand where you are coming from. These are AUTHENTIC, REAL stories people are telling.
Here is K’s story, showing that the work-related infections STILL continue.
“To whoever can help:
As a loyal NHS Podiatist working in high risk setting during pandemic I feel abandoned by my this government.
I sadly contracted COVID FEB 22 at work AFTER positive patient and wife refused to wear mask in out patient setting and I was in Hospital PPE, as defined by PUBLIC HEALTH.
I have not returned to work since 28 Feb 2022 and have had zero support until recently. I have spent over £5000 savings in pursuit of help from various private health care consultants to rule out obvious diseases, respiratory and neurology; all suggest no diagnosis other than long covid.
I go on 50% pay soon and will run the risk of losing everything; my job, my home and my future, once my pay stops after 38 years caring long hours for NHS patients.
I worked long hrs in PPE for standard pay in the "Frontline”, whilst others sat at home in sunshine for 80% of their pay. UK government should surely see the disparity in the support and care for those brave NHS frontline workers who now risk losing everything; they have so valiantly worked towards achieving throughout pandemic.
If anything, Long Covid should be recognised as Industrial injury and an appropriate reason for Ill health retirement. Staff no longer feel valued or worthy; after 38 long years doing the job I love, I now feel ditched by my partner in healthcare when I most needed their care. The grief for my old life is immeasurable and no one cares.
Thanks for the weekly clap: I didn't know it was an applause for the potential end of my career.”
PLEASE share K’s story. I wanted to you to see the anger and despair in their words. Thank you ALL for everything you’re doing to share our words.
(As an aside, Covid Special Leave should never have ended and our friends in LCNMUK share a dear friend’s petition on trying to get that reversed, so you should also sign that - thanks)