My struggle with Long Covid has been difficult and relentless for the last 3 years. On numerous occasions, I've had to miss work due to its debilitating symptoms. My fear of being unemployed has meant that many times I have gone to work despite being in reality too unwell to do so, making me more unwell. I was 26 when I caught covid in July 2021. I caught Covid soon after ‘Freedom day’ was announced and restrictions were removed. I also worked in a front facing role in Education. 

It’s taken two challenging years, from my formal diagnosis of long Covid through a Long Covid Clinic to this year in 2024 for my workplace to formally implement an appropriate level of reasonable adjustments for me and the stress has been difficult to manage. This hasn’t been helped by lack of government guidance for workplaces and lack of public awareness and information. 

After Covid I became so unwell that I couldn’t walk more than a few steps without needing to sit down. I’ve experienced skin that was painful to touch, chest pain, hypoxia when standing, heart palpitations, breathlessness, change of smell/taste, hair loss, weight loss, loss of appetite, brain fog, short term memory difficulties, POTs, orthostatic hypotension, chronic fatigue, chronic pain, folate deficiencies, iron deficiency, PEM and been unable to do any form of exercise. I’ve also experienced social isolation and the challenges all these symptoms have had on my mental health. I’m now 29. 

The Long Covid rehab clinic I've been under has been a significant help, providing crucial support and evidence for my condition. They have been vital to helping me stay in paid employment despite being so unwell. This makes it even more distressing to hear of such clinics across the nation face closure due to lack of funding, especially with new Long Covid diagnoses still occurring in 2024. These are invaluable lifelines for those struggling with this condition through no fault of their own. GPs simply cannot cope with the added pressure long Covid has created hence why these specialised clinics are so important. They have helped patients understand the condition and they allow time for more in depth appointments with health professionals. 

Many of us still face a lack of understanding and acknowledgment about Long Covid from our employers and indeed society in general. In some instances, Long Covid is not fully recognised as a health condition covered by the Equality Act of 2010, making it challenging for us to access the necessary reasonable adjustments required to hold onto our jobs.

It is estimated that 2 million people in the UK have long covid, with many more struggling who simply haven’t been diagnosed or haven’t accessed appropriate care that may have linked current problems with a prior covid infection. It becomes clear that swift and comprehensive action is necessary. We call for a national review of support provided for individuals with Long Covid. We also urge the new government to discuss the issue with workplaces nationwide. We want to see the UK fully recognise Long Covid as a health condition under the Equality Act 2010 for those with appropriate evidence of such diagnosis. 

Please stand with us not against us. Support those of us struggling with Long Covid. Your signature can lend weight to our discussions and bring about the changes and support we desperately need. Please help us rebuild our lives, recover and support us in being able to stay in or access paid employment. We urge the government and the NHS to continue supporting people with Long Covid. Sign this petition today.

Personal update- I waited 8 months for Access to work scheme to help me stay in work, I had to have more time off as still struggling. I returned to work with this now in place. Within just over a week, I caught covid again. This has set me back once more. I’m back to low oxygen levels, limited movement and activity because of this and time off work. This is not sustainable as a workforce. This country needs to review its lack of mitigations, covid policies and absence policies in work now. Not later. 

Donations through change.org help to promote this petition rather than to charities etc*