Cass Appears At Scottish Covid Inquiry!

As some of you may know, as part of the Keyworker Petition Campaign, Cass’ work in Scotland largely is part of being part of Scottish Healthcare Workers’ Coalition. Cass was asked to join this group in early 2023.

Cass and others within the group have worked incredibly hard on evidence for the inquiry, pieces of work and information gathering, as well as putting together an initial overview and their organisational statement. This was a huge team effort, often by only a few people and, because KWPC is also a very small group, meant that Cass had to pause work with KWPC more recently. The SHWC also used work done by this campaign to highlight issues and frame their own survey recently.

The big day was Friday: If you’d like to watch Cass’ appearance, you can do so here. They were first on in the afternoon session (you will have to scroll forwards as the recording starts before the evidence).

Understandably, Cass is exhausted and currently experiencing a flare of their symptoms, but we are all so proud of them. As Cass puts it:

“I was nervous in a way I’ve never been, because I was representing Scotland’s community of health and social care workers with Long Covid and I wanted to get it right. I felt the weight of the group, wider community and keyworkers in Scotland with Long Covid on my shoulders, but I’d also had a lot of support from them beforehand. 

Our legal team were amazing. I ended up winging my final statement to the Inquiry, but I think it went well. Counsel and our solicitors were happy with how it went and I’m told we were very good. I was asked about the Keyworker Petition Campaign!

I did my absolute best and I hope it was enough. It was a privilege to be able to represent those who aren’t well enough to participate and highlight some of the issues we are facing.”

Cass we are all proud of you. You’ve brought some of us to tears with your eloquent, professional and articulate description of what we went and continue to go through.

Cass’ only regret?

That they completely forgot to use our new catchphrase, which is very much expanding on Rachel’s:

Clapped on Thursday. Disabled on Friday. Forgotten by Saturday.

Well done, Cass. Rest up.