Despite the perception that the pandemic is over, many still suffer from its aftermath. Can Welsh healthcare help those suffering from long Covid?
Mr. Gareth Evans is the Trustee of the Long COVID Support charity. Like most people, he felt fever, sore throat, and other symptoms after being diagnosed with the new coronavirus and could not take care of himself.
Yet when he thought he was recovering, that was the beginning of a bad experience as long Covid.
Gareth Evans said: “During this time, I struggled to get validation from the doctors that I was physically ill. Despite the growing awareness of Long Covid, patients frequently encounter suspicion and gaslighting at the hands of health care professionals who suggest they’re anxious, depressed or even lazy.”
Long Covid is a term used to describe a condition that affects some individuals after recovering from an initial Covid infection.
“Despite the growing body of research, there is still no cure and no consensus on a treatment that can help alleviate symptoms. We live in the fear we may never fully recover,” said Gareth Evans, “With the opening up of the economy, Covid restrictions being relaxed, and the language used by politicians referring to the ‘post-Covid’ or ‘post-pandemic’ era, there’s a belief that Covid-19 is no longer a threat. This is extremely worrying.”
According to the Office for National Statistics, 56,000 people in Wales were experiencing self-reported long Covid.
The most common symptom among those with self-reported long Covid was fatigue, reported by 71% of individuals, followed by difficulty concentrating (52%), shortness of breath (48%), and muscle ache (47%).
Gareth Evans said: “During this time, I struggled to get validation from the doctors that I was physically ill. Despite the growing awareness of Long Covid, patients frequently encounter suspicion and gaslighting at the hands of health care professionals who suggest they’re anxious, depressed or even lazy.”
The NHS has committed funding to enhance Long-Term Covid services, focusing on specialist assessment and treatment and ensuring timely and accessible care for those who need it.
The Welsh Government has also proposed the Adferiad (Recovery) Programme, which provides a £5 million support package. It aims to expand the provision of diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and care for those suffering from the long-term effects of covid.
The Welsh Government claimed the focus is on offering personalized treatment for patients’ needs and ensuring care is provided as close to home as possible.
“Sadly, the government are simply not doing enough,” said Gareth, “There are existing drugs that could help treat Long Covid patients but, without clinical trials, we cannot access them…inexplicably, we’re not classed as clinically vulnerable therefore cannot access vaccines or antivirals that could afford some protection.”
“We’d like to see Clean Air Initiatives rolled out such as HEPA filtration, adequate ventilation in crowded spaces and the introduction of high-quality PPE in specific settings such as healthcare. Greater support should be offered to those workers affected by Long Covid (including carers) to reintegrate them back into the workforce.”
“Some form of monitoring of Covid and Long Covid needs to be reintroduced together with a public messaging campaign warning of the dangers of Long Covid.”
Long Covid Awareness Day aims to increase public understanding of Long Covid. The first annual International Long Covid Awareness Day was held on March 15, 2023.
“It’s a day when communities around the world come together to make a difference,” said Gareth, “It would mean so much to those fighting their private battles with Long Covid, not least the key workers who stepped up during the pandemic but are now left struggling themselves.”