(Image: Newsquest)
A BRADFORD district man who says his life has been “devastated” by Long Covid has urged new Prime Minister Andy Burnham to do more to help people living with the condition.
Dad-of-two Darren Parkinson, 50, said he contracted coronavirus in 2021 and now struggles to leave his home as a result of Long Covid.
He said Long Covid cost him his 20-year job as a learning disability nurse for the NHS – and it also forced him to stand down as a Green Party councillor on Shipley Town Council.
The Government says it is funding research into the condition to improve diagnosis, support and unlock new treatments.
What is Long Covid and how many people does it affect?
According to the NHS, Long Covid happens when the symptoms of Covid-19 last longer than 12 weeks.
It is estimated to affect around two million people in the UK.
Symptoms include extreme tiredness, muscle aches, difficulty concentrating and shortness of breath.
There is currently no cure for Long Covid and the condition is still being researched.
'Do more to support people living with Long Covid'
Mr Parkinson, of Shipley, said: “I don’t want me, and other people living with Long Covid, to be forgotten.
“My message to the new Prime Minister and his Government is really clear – do more to support people living with Long Covid, and invest more money for research to hopefully find a cure for this horrendous condition.”
'Constantly ill and exhausted'
Mr Parkinson explained what his life has been like over the last five years.
“My body feels like it has been poisoned,” he said.
“It’s a constant feeling of being really ill and exhausted – from the moment I get up to the moment I go to bed.
“I feel utterly exhausted just by being alive.
“It means the main thing I need to do during the day is rest – I spend most of the day lying on my bed or sofa, or sitting down somewhere.
“It’s had a devastating impact on my life – everything I used to enjoy doing, I can no longer do.”
What has the Government said?
A Government spokesperson said: “Darren’s story highlights the very real impact Long Covid continues to have on people and their families, and we are committed to ensuring those suffering with the condition get the support they need.
“Long Covid services, commissioned by local NHS organisations, should be offered to support people, and we are funding research into this condition to improve diagnosis, support and unlock new treatments.
“Where local services are not available, patients with Long Covid symptoms should visit their GP, who can then refer them to alternative services based on clinical need.”