Long-term Covid impact on NHS workers studied

RESEARCHERS are to conduct a three-year study into the longterm health impact of Covid-19 on NHS workers.

The Reach-Out study will see a team from the National Institute for Health Research Leicester Biomedical Research Centre work with colleagues from University College London and the University of Nottingham.

Data has already been collected through the UK-Reach study from more than 18,000 healthcare workers from a range of ethnic groups, around a quarter of whom contracted Covid-19.

For the new study, participants will take part in questionnaires, interviews and focus groups to examine levels of support and the availability and effectiveness of treatments for managing the impacts of acute and long Covid.

Dr Manish Pareek, associate clinical professor of infectious diseases at the University of Leicester and chief investigator of UKReach, said: “Healthcare workers have been disproportionately affected by Covid-19 and there is emerging data on long Covid in this group.

“Unfortunately, long Covid in healthcare workers remains poorly understood and we are delighted that Reach-Out will build on the work of UK-Reach to research this area and inform the NHS and policy makers.”

Dr Habib Naqvi, director of the NHS Race and Health Observatory, said: “I am delighted the observatory will be working with UK-Reach to examine the impact of long Covid on some of the most at-risk healthcare staff in the UK.

“People from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds have shouldered a disproportionate burden in the Covid-19 pandemic and we are increasingly concerned that history is repeating itself in the case of long Covid.

“Black, Asian and minority ethnic healthcare workers, who make nearly 25 per cent of NHS staff, are at high risk of Covid-19 infection and adverse outcomes.

“The ongoing mental, physical and occupational impacts of long Covid on healthcare staff and on patient care are as yet unknown.

“Urgent research is needed to aid the recovery of the healthcare system, and this programme of work will help to support that.”

Mario Andrew Alfonso, an anaesthetic nurse, said: “I am a Covid-19 survivor who has been suffering from the effects of the long Covid syndrome.

“I continue to experience a variety of symptoms that affects numerous systems in my body after recovering from an acute infection of Covid in 2020.

“It’s not just long-term physical effects but also the long-term mental effects and their impact on your psychological wellbeing.

“I am aware not everyone has similar symptoms or in the same severity.

“This is why I believe that research and study on this disabling effect of Covid-19 are extremely important.”

WORK AIMS TO HELP INFORM POLICIES FOR HEALTH STAFF