A group of nearly 70 healthcare workers with long Covid are set to take legal action against the NHS and other employers in the High Court as they seek compensation. The staff, who hail from England and Wales, contend that they contracted the virus as a result of their work during the pandemic and that they were not adequately protected against it. Many of them now face life-altering disabilities which will likely deprive them of income. The Department of Health commented that lessons will have been learned from the pandemic.
The group argues that they were not supplied with adequate personal protective equipment (PPE), including gloves, aprons, gowns and eye protection, during their work. They also assert that they should have been provided with high-grade masks that offer better protection against the virus. The masks they were given, however, were in line with national regulations.
The experiences of members of the group illustrate the debilitating impact of long Covid. Rachel Hext, a 36-year-old nurse from Devon who believes she caught Covid as a result of her work, has experienced everything from nerve damage and brain fog to deafness in one ear. Long Covid affects an estimated 1.9 million individuals in the UK and can cause an array of symptoms, including joint pain, heart palpitations and concentration difficulties.
Members of the group are attempting to sue their employers for compensation, with many stating that they have been left disabled. The case will likely become a protracted legal battle, with Wednesday’s hearing just the first stage in the process. Meanwhile, another group of health workers is also seeking compensation but is not yet prepared to go to court
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