Press Release – NHS WORKER PANDEMIC VICTIMS SEEK JUSTICE FROM EMPLOYERS
For over four years, Keyworkers with occupational Long Covid have been patiently waiting for the U.K. governments to do the right thing: To declare Long Covid an occupational disease – like many other nations around the world – and to set up a compensation and pension scheme for those affected, in line with the AFCS and like many European nations. They have failed to do that or announce any plans for this.
Instead, keyworkers, who the Keyworker Petition Campaign work to raise awareness of, have been ignored. Rather than a much less expensive fund being set up, many are being forced to take legal action, although many have been barred from it. The situation that they find themselves in is nothing less than shocking – with those raising awareness of their plight in the media often met with silence from parliaments and abuse from the public. In a last, desperate attempt none of them wanted to take, some NHS workers managed to get legal representation in an attempt secure their futures.
Earlier this month, solicitors representing them, met with NHS England and Wales employers to agree a way forward to trial. Unfortunately, their stance is to stay all claims until the end of the U.K. Covid Inquiry. This would extend the wait for natural justice by some years. Rather than a less expensive, no-fault compensation scheme, NHS worker pandemic victims are forced to engage in expensive legal action, extending their trauma and suffering. On 23 and 24 October 2024, at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, the victims’ legal teams will argue to set trial dates without further delay
Rachel Hext, a former nurse suing the NHS and Co-founder of the Keyworker Petition Campaign said: “Despite calls for support and compensation, as well as media coverage of those impacted by the pandemic, nothing has changed. We continue to catch Covid and develop Long Covid, for which there is little treatment and no cure. We are still ignored”
Cass Macdonald, Co-founder, Keyworker Petition Campaign, said: “I’ve come from Scotland to show support. Keyworkers across the U.K. continue to lose jobs, careers, health, even their homes, facing long-term unemployment. We know of many battling to get benefits, waiting months or even years for resolution, some even denied medical retirement. This is an almost total loss of financial support.”
Keyworker Petition Campaign supports these NHS Pandemic Victims and has called for supporters to meet outside the Royal Courts of Justice, in London, at 10am on Wednesday 23 October, to back this legal action to go to trial.
Keyworker Petition U.K., 18 October 2024
Contact:
Keyworker Petition Campaign: X: @keyworkerpetuk or email keyworkerpetitionuk@gmail.com
GA Solicitors: Tel 01752 203500 or email enquiries@GAsolicitors.com
Create a Compensation and pension fund for keyworkers with occupational long Covid Keyworker Petition Campaign https://chng.it/RYj4XL2jfK [accessed 16 October]
Long Covid: Health Staff go to court for compensation https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-68479912 [accessed 16 October]
References:
Workers’ Experience of Long Covid, TUC and Long Covid Support, https://www.tuc.org.uk/research-analysis/reports/workers-experience-long-covid [accessed 16 October]
Lasting Harm: The Impact of Long Covid on Scottish Health and Social Care Workers, Scottish Healthcare Workers’ Coaltition and Thompsons Solicitors, https://covidactionscotland.org/2024/05/12/lasting-harm-the-impact-of-long-covid-on-scottish-health-and-social-care-workers/ [accessed 16 October]
Long Covid And Employment: Findings from the APPG on Coronavirus October 2022 Evidence Hearing, APPG on Coronavirus, October 2022. [PDF of report available on demand]
Media:
NHS Heroes with horrific Long Covid face losing jobs as support is cut, Martin Bagot, The Mirror, https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/nhs-heroes-horrific-long-covid-29199446?utm_source=linkCopy&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar [accessed 16 October]
Keyworkers with Long Covid deliver petition to Downing Street, The Mirror, Martin Bagot and Cecilia Adamou https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/key-workers-long-covid-deliver-29470357 [accessed 16 October]
‘We need a long COVID compensation scheme’: Nurses take their fight for keyworkers to the PM RCN Magazine, https://www.rcn.org.uk/magazines/Action/2023/March/Long-COVID-compensation-scheme-petition [accessed 16 October]
NHS Workers with Long Covid say their pandemic plight is being totally ignored, Sunday Post, Marion Scott https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/nhs-workers-with-long-covid/ [accessed 16 October]