Fresh call to recognise long Covid as occupational disease for nurses
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and British Medical Association (BMA) have jointly criticised the government for failing to recognise long Covid and severe Covid-19 complications as occupational diseases for health and social care workers.
A letter from the unions to the government, signed by RCN general secretary and chief executive Professor Nicola Ranger and BMA chair Dr Tom Dolphin, urged the government to ‘act quickly and provide support now’ to nursing staff and doctors who have ‘suffered significant financial losses as a result of contracting Covid-19 in the workplace’.
The fresh appeal comes three years after the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC) found evidence for five conditions from complications of Covid-19 infection that should be prescribed as an occupational disease for health and social care workers.
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The unions previously made a similar appeal to the government to recognise long Covid as an occupational disease in November 2023.
The RCN and BMA have this week criticised the government’s inaction as ‘unconscionable’ and urged ministers to adopt the IIAC’s recommendations.
In the letter to the secretary of state for work and pensions, Professor Ranger and Dr Dolphin warned of the ‘debilitating effects’ of long Covid on nursing, midwifery and medical staff – many of whom were previously left, or remain, unable to work, leading to significant financial detriment.
They stated that providing recognition of certain post-Covid complications as an occupational disease would allow some of those affected to receive Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefits.
‘The UK Government needs to act quickly and provide support now to the many doctors and nursing staff, and their families, who have suffered significant financial losses as a result of contracting Covid-19 in the workplace and then developing long Covid,’ the letter reads.
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The RCN’s head of health, safety and wellbeing, Leona Cameron added: ‘It is now three years since the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council made their recommendation to the Department of Work and Pensions for recognition of five post-Covid-19 complications for the purpose of claiming Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.
‘For those suffering from these conditions, this is three years too long and action needs to be taken now.’
Meanwhile, BMA occupational medicine committee chair, Dr Kathryn McKinnon said: ‘It is deeply disappointing that we yet again mark another year where the government has failed to recognise long covid and severe post-Covid-19 complications as an occupational disease in healthcare workers.
‘It is unconscionable that the government has kept these workers, who put themselves at immense personal risk to keep our health services afloat and to care for our loved ones during the pandemic, waiting for so long for recognition.’
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The five key complications listed by the IIAC were:
- persisting pneumonitis or lung fibrosis following acute Covid-19 pneumonitis
- persisting pulmonary hypertension caused by a pulmonary embolism developing between three days before and 90 days after a diagnosis of Covid-19
- ischaemic stroke within 28 days of a Covid-19 diagnosis;
- myocardial infarction within 28 days of a Covid-19 diagnosis;
- symptoms of post intensive care syndrome following ventilatory support treatment for Covid-19
Earlier this year, Professor Ranger warned that despite the extraordinary efforts of the profession during the pandemic, nursing was at risk of being seen as ‘expensive and dispensable’.
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