Postcode lottery in ‘long COVID’ will exacerbate health inequalities, say nursing leaders 

Patients with long COVID are suffering under a postcode lottery in care that will exacerbate health inequalities, delegates at the Royal College of Nursing’s annual Congress heard at Congress in Glasgow.

Diagnosis and treatment vary hugely across the UK – with long COVID treated as a physical condition in some clinics but predominantly as a psychological condition in others – and the existing services are woefully inadequate to meet the level of demand.

About 96,000 people in Wales are living with Long COVID, according to the Office of National Statistics. 

The RCN called for the UK government to significantly increase its investment in long COVID research and care so that patients are treated fairly across the UK to prevent damaging health inequalities being exacerbated.

Inequalities are already visible as the prevalence of long COVID is greatest in females, people living in more deprived areas and those working in social care, teaching and education or health care.

The RCN also wants nursing expertise to be used more widely – long COVID has increasingly become recognised as a long-term condition whose symptoms, such as fatigue, joint pain and brain fog, require ongoing management and treatment.

The College said where nursing staff are used in long COVID care, they play a pivotal role in managing patient care and treating chronic symptoms.

Also, in Wales, NHS employees with over 12 months COVID sickness absence will continue to receive full pay until 30 June 2022. From 1 July individuals will move to a half-pay position for the length of time corresponding to their length of service. 

Alison Magor a district nurse and RCN Wales Board member, said: “Covid is a debilitating illness, having had it twice it has left me with shortness of breath and ongoing overwhelming fatigue. Overcoming this on a daily basis whilst continuing to work has been challenging and lifestyle changes have had to be made to accommodate this new intrusion in to my daily life.”

Ends

Notes to Editors

The RCN’s annual Congress was held 5-9 June in  Glasgow. At the Conference a debate was held on the condition and was passed.  The resolution, which members were asked to vote on, was: “That this meeting of RCN Congress asks RCN Council to campaign for nursing staff with long Covid to receive equitable and effective support.”

Prevalence of ongoing symptoms following coronavirus (COVID-19) infection in the UK - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)

There are currently no long COVID clinics in Wales and Scotland, and only one in Northern Ireland.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations. 

For more information, contact the RCN Communications and Media Office at 02920680769.