BMA calls for immediate action to improve understanding of long Covid

The British Medical Association (BMA) has published a new report calling for immediate action to help improve the understanding, treatment, care and support of people with long Covid across the UK.

The report, Addressing the health challenge of long Covid, explores the ‘significant burden of long-term illness’ from Covid-19, which is likely to increase as more people continue to contract the virus.

It also examines the specific issues for doctors with long Covid. As of 2 July 2022, ONS figures showed an estimated 1.8 million people in the UK self-reporting long Covid in the UK. Many of these will be healthcare workers, likely due to their greater exposure to Covid-19 while they have been working to look after patients during the pandemic.

Doctors need adequate support for long Covid

The BMA says that pay provisions for NHS staff with long Covid in England – which includes full-pay for Covid-related illness and assurance that Covid-related absence doesn’t trigger HR procedures – are due to fully end soon. As a result, some doctors who are currently unable to work because of their symptoms will struggle to pay their mortgages or feed their families.

Professor Philip Banfield, chair of council at the BMA, said: “With normal contractual sick pay arrangements back in place, staff with long Covid might feel pressured to return to work before they have fully recovered.  In the context of a worsening cost of living crisis, staff are having to ask themselves impossible questions. Do I return to work early, knowing that my symptoms could impact my performance, and by extension, patient safety, or do I sacrifice my income by staying at home?

“For those unable to return to work at all, many are worried about how they will continue to pay their mortgage, or if they can afford to even feed their families. Putting staff in this position is totally unacceptable, which is why we urgently need proper support for staff and a compensation scheme for those who need it. NHS staff gave their all during the pandemic; for some, they have sacrificed their livelihoods and remain profoundly affected by on-going symptoms. For Government to not support them in return is appalling.”

The report is also calling for

• Detailed data collection on the prevalence and presentation of long Covid
• Increased funding for research and infrastructure
• Preventing Long Covid in children
• Support for health professionals to identify and treat long Covid
• Funding and resources to establish multidisciplinary services
• Improved financial and wider support for people unable to work due to long Covid
• Improved support and compensation scheme for doctors and health care workers who have long Covid.

The BMA also wants “more consistent provision of long Covid care” so that people do not have to wait unacceptably long times to access treatment.