Done what was asked of l fear losing theirjobs. I� e done what was asked of me. I went into the front line, ive done myjob, and now im just collateral damage. Done my job, and now im Ust Collateral Damagei collateral damage. They cared for us, collateral damage. They cared for us. Now collateral damage. They cared for us, now they collateral damage. They cared for us, now they are collateral damage. They cared for us, now they are asking, l for us, now they are asking, who is going to care for them . They arejust on who is going to care for them . They are just on a no mans land they are just on a no mans land we they are just on a no mans land. We dont have the support for them land. We dont have the support for them and actually that genuinely makes me angry. I was iwasa i was a power walker. Went everywhere as quickly as possible. Sometimes people think im a patient, rather than the doctor, until they see my badges and so on. Shall we listen to your chest . Can you put it on your chest . Dr natalie put it on your chest . Dr Natalie Mcdermott has long covid. I Natalie Mcdermott has long covid. ,. ,. , covid. I thought something not uuite covid. I thought something not quite right covid. I thought something not quite right here covid. I thought something not quite right here but covid. I thought something not quite right here but i covid. I thought something not quite right here but ijust quite right here but ijust couldnt build up that strength, like, it didnt seem to matter how much i went for a walk, i couldnt get beyond a certain point. Walk, i couldnt get beyond a certain point. Natalie says she cau~ht certain point. Natalie says she caught covid certain point. Natalie says she caught covm twice certain point. Natalie says she caught covm twice at certain point. Natalie says she caught covm twice at the certain point. Natalie says she| caught covid twice at the start of the pandemic. The london trust where she used to work disputes she was infected there. A, disputes she was infected there. � , disputes she was infected there. , disputes she was infected there. � , there. A Mobility Scooter is a Big Adjustment there. A Mobility Scooter is a Big Adjustment for there. A Mobility Scooter is a Big Adjustment for me there. A Mobility Scooter is a i Big Adjustment for me because i guess i never really thought i would need one, or certainly not at the age of a0. She would need one, or certainly not at the age of 40. Not at the age of 40. She is now working not at the age of 40. She is now working at not at the age of 40. She is now working at a not at the age of 40. She is now working at a different l now working at a different hospital. Now working at a different heapital now working at a different hosital. ,. , hospital. Sometimes now, ifind it very hard hospital. Sometimes now, ifind it very hard to hospital. Sometimes now, ifind it very hard to find hospital. Sometimes now, ifind it very hard to find things, hospital. Sometimes now, ifind it very hard to find things, i it very hard to find things, i just dont have that concentration for very long anymore. So i can read may a sentence, but then ijust lose track of where i am. Sentence, but then i ust lose track of where i am. Sentence, but then i ust lose track of where i am. Long covid is a new condition track of where i am. Long covid is a new condition and track of where i am. Long covid is a new condition and there track of where i am. Long covid is a new condition and there is| is a new condition and there is no universal definition, but the World Health Organization says if you are still ill three months after infection and there is no other obvious cause, it is long covid. There are two very cause, it is long covid. There are two very broad cause, it is long covid. There are two very broad categories of long are two very broad categories of long covid. There are people who got of long covid. There are people who got really severe covid, the virus who got really severe covid, the virus that affected their lungs. The virus that affected their lungs, that affected their blood lungs, that affected their blood vessels, so they had strokes blood vessels, so they had strokes or heart attacks. Actually strokes or heart attacks. Actually a far more common version actually a far more common version though are people who often version though are people who often only had very mild disease. Theyve been left with an overall disease. Theyve been left with an overall system failure, and the body an overall system failure, and the bodyjust doesnt work the way that the bodyjust doesnt work the way that it should. Coronavirus chan. Ed way that it should. Coronavirus changed life way that it should. Coronavirus changed life dramatically, way that it should. Coronavirus changed life dramatically, an l changed life dramatically, an emergency the like of which most of us had never experienced before. Most of us had never exerienced before. , experienced before. Our Health Correspondent experienced before. Our Health Correspondent catherine correspondent catherine vandersay. What have we learned . Vandersay. What have we learned . ,. , learned . Showstopper something that shows us learned . Showstopper something that shows us how learned . Showstopper something that shows us how much learned . Showstopper something that shows us how much things i that shows us how much things have that shows us how much things have changed since the beginning of the year. | have changed since the beginning of the year. I have been covering beginning of the year. I have been covering the beginning of the year. I have been covering the pandemic| beginning of the year. I have been covering the pandemic from the beginning of the year when millions were told to stay home, protect the nhs, save lives. In return, the government promised to protect Health Workers. I government promised to protect Health Workers. Health workers. I will stop at nothin Health Workers. I will stop at nothing to Health Workers. I will stop at nothing to make Health Workers. I will stop at nothing to make sure Health Workers. I will stop at nothing to make sure front l Health Workers. I will stop at i nothing to make sure front line staff have the right equipment so that they can feel safe and be confident that they have everything they need to do theirjobs. Everything they need to do theirjobs everything they need to do their obs. � ,. Theirjobs. And every thursday niuht theirjobs. And every thursday night across theirjobs. And every thursday night across the theirjobs. And every thursday night across the uk, theirjobs. And every thursday night across the uk, People I Night across the uk, people came out to show their appreciation. Now some of those we applauded say they are being abandoned. Weve been in touch with more than 250 Health Workers who say they now have long covid. I workers who say they now have long covid long covid. I dont want to be like i am, long covid. I dont want to be like i am, i long covid. I dont want to be like i am, i want long covid. I dont want to be like i am, i want to long covid. I dont want to be like i am, i want to be long covid. I dont want to be like i am, i want to be part i long covid. I dont want to be like i am, i want to be part of| like i am, i want to be part of the normal, working world. I want to be a part of the world thats moved on, that thinks thats moved on, that thinks that covid is over. For me, its a living, breathing beast. This past 14 months has broken me, i have had days where i have me, i have had days where i have feit me, i have had days where i have felt like i cant carry on, have felt like i cant carry on. And have felt like i cant carry on. And it have felt like i cant carry on, and it would be easier to not on, and it would be easier to not he on, and it would be easier to not be here. Which is terrifying, because thats not who terrifying, because thats not who i terrifying, because thats not who i am terrifying, because thats not who i am. | terrifying, because thats not who i am terrifying, because thats not who i am. I look to the future and i think, who i am. I look to the future and i think, is who i am. I look to the future and i think, is this who i am. I look to the future and i think, is this going i who i am. I look to the future and i think, is this going to i and i think, is this going to be me and i think, is this going to be me forever . I feel like ifeel like im i feel like im a mere shell of the person i feel like im a mere shell of the person i i feel like im a mere shell of the person i used i feel like im a mere shell of the person i used to i feel like im a mere shell of the person i used to be. I i feel like im a mere shell of the person i used to be. Thel the person i used to be. The nhs across the person i used to be. The nhs across the the person i used to be. The nhs across the uk the person i used to be. Nhs across the uk doesnt the person i used to be. Nhs across the uk doesnt have an overall figure for how many staff have long covid. Figures arent always recorded, partly because of the wide range of symptoms. Weve analysed survey data from the office for national statistics, and estimate that, in the uk, around 90,000 Health Workers would say they are still living with it. Dr Natalie Mcdermott specialises in infectious diseases, and was worried early on about the risks of covid. The alarm bells rang for me because i thought, but we are working with known Covid Patients here and yet we are still only allowed to wear the same ppe that i am wearing on any other ward. Same ppe that i am wearing on any other ward. What ppe were ou any other ward. What ppe were you wearing . Any other ward. What ppe were you wearing . A any other ward. What ppe were you wearing . A fluid any other ward. What ppe were you wearing . A fluid resistant i you wearing . A fluid resistant sura ical you wearing . A fluid resistant surgical mask, you wearing . A fluid resistant surgical mask, a you wearing . A fluid resistant surgical mask, a pair you wearing . A fluid resistant surgical mask, a pair of you wearing . A fluid resistant| surgical mask, a pair of gloves and a plastic apron that covers your torso, and a plastic apron that covers yourtorso, nothing and a plastic apron that covers your torso, nothing else. She wrote to your torso, nothing else. She wrote to the your torso, nothing else. She wrote to the trust yourtorso, nothing else. She wrote to the trust she was working for at the time, raising her concerns about ppe. It says it was following official guidance. I it says it was following official guidance. I said, why are we not official guidance. I said, why are we not wearing official guidance. I said, why are we not wearing full i official guidance. I said, why are we not wearing full ppe, j are we not wearing full ppe, im concerned there are inconsistencies, and that staff are being left unprotected. Health unions were worried too. They repeatedly asked for more protection. Irate they repeatedly asked for more protection protection. We are getting the ushback protection. We are getting the pushback that protection. We are getting the pushback that firstly protection. We are getting the pushback that firstly we i protection. We are getting the pushback that firstly we dont | pushback that firstly we dont have pushback that firstly we dont have sufficient masks in order to keep have sufficient masks in order to keep the staff are safe. Second. To keep the staff are safe. Second, that this would be generating fear, when it came to the generating fear, when it came to the virus. And actually it was to the virus. And actually it was appropriate that they should was appropriate that they should be a degree of fear when it comes should be a degree of fear when it comes to a deadly virus. Advice it comes to a deadly virus. Advice on it comes to a deadly virus. Advice on ppe was based on the idea of the virus was largely spread through droplets from coughs and sneezes. Some scientists were convinced there was another significant way it was another significant way it was being transmitted, through aerosols, infectious particles lingering in the air. Not everyone agreed. Lingering in the air. Not everyone agreed. Lingering in the air. Not eve one aareed. ,. ,. , everyone agreed. Very early on we thought everyone agreed. Very early on we thought it everyone agreed. Very early on we thought it was everyone agreed. Very early on we thought it was aerosol. I everyone agreed. Very early on we thought it was aerosol. We | we thought it was aerosol. We were saying this since i think march, april. So lets say that my view was not popular, ok, and i think that, without being too specific, a lot of Infection Control people didnt want to hear this. If we understood better how the virus was being spread, we could have implemented better ppe for Health Care Workers. Health care workers. From midmarch Health Care Workers. From midmarch 2020, Health Care Workers. From midmarch 2020, the Health Care Workers. From i midmarch 2020, the Guidance Health care workers. From midmarch 2020, the guidance on mid march 2020, the guidance on caring for covert patients was for most health staff to wear these, surgical masks, the kind many of us have become used to. But in some areas, like Intensive Care units, and for certain medical procedures, the advice was to use these, ffp three respirators. If one correctly, they form a seal around the face, with a Filter Blocking at least 99 of infectious particles. There is still a debate about whether wider use of Respirator Masks would have stopped so many Health Workers getting infected. The government says it delivered over 25 billion items of ppe, and guidance was agreed by all four nations and Public Health bodies. There are days when i honestly cant even get out of the house, but i tend to try and get out here at least a couple of times a day, even if its just a few minutes at a time. Rachel haxton is a nurse in devon. Shes been diagnosed with long covid, and hasnt worked for more than two years. Her husband gordon has it too. They have two sons, tommy and greg. They have two sons, tommy and greu. ,. , they have two sons, tommy and greu. ,. ,. , greg. They are three and four, ou greg. They are three and four, you know . Greg. They are three and four, you know . Most greg. They are three and four, you know . Most parents i greg. They are three and four, you know . Most parents could pick them up and give them a piggyback, put them up pick them up and give them a piggyback, put them up on pick them up and give them a piggyback, put them up on their shoulders, which is something gordon used to do all the time with the boys. We cant do that now. I with the boys. We cant do that now. ,. ,. , now. Ijust need to pop him in because im now. Ijust need to pop him in because im just now. Ijust need to pop him in because im just really now. Ijust need to pop him in because im just really out i now. Ijust need to pop him in because im just really out of| because im just really out of breath because im ust really out of breath. ,. ,. Breath. Joint pain, muscle ain, breath. Joint pain, muscle pain. My breath. Joint pain, muscle pain, my taste breath. Joint pain, muscle pain, my taste and breath. Joint pain, muscle pain, my taste and smell| breath. Joint pain, muscle i pain, my taste and smell have never gone back to what they were. Like a big wave of allergy problems. I now carry an epipen. Ive never done that before in my life. Ive lost the hearing in my left air, i wear the hearing in my leftair, i weara the hearing in my left air, i wear a hearing the hearing in my leftair, i weara hearing aid. The hearing in my left air, i wear a hearing aid. The hearing in my left air, i wear a hearing aid. Rachel was infected in wear a hearing aid. Rachel was infected in october wear a hearing aid. Rachel was infected in october 2020. I infected in october 2020. Theres only ward. Without warnin theres only ward. Without warning i theres only ward. Without warning i was theres only ward. Without warning i was called i theres only ward. Without warning i was called in i theres only ward. Without warning i was called in to l theres only ward. Without i warning i was called in to say it had been turned over the last few days into a Covid Contact Ward and i should bring some spare clothes with me because there was not enough scraps to go around. Scraps to go around. Patients who had been scraps to go around. Patients who had been exposed i scraps to go around. Patients who had been exposed to i scraps to go around. Patients i who had been exposed to covid well being transfer to rachels hospital and soon started to test positive. How did you feel . , , test positive. How did you feel . ,. , feel . Rabbit in headlights, if im feel . Rabbit in headlights, if im honest feel . Rabbit in headlights, if im honest. Ill feel . Rabbit in headlights, if im honest. Ill never feel . Rabbit in headlights, if im honest. Ill never forget l im honest. Ill neverforget it, ijust walked into absolute chaos. ,. , chaos. This was during the second wave chaos. This was during the second wave of chaos. This was during the second wave of the chaos. This was during the i second wave of the pandemic, and before the first vaccines. Rachel says she didnt feel safe. ~ , rachel says she didnt feel safe. G. , safe. My particular surgical mask, safe. My particular surgical mask. By safe. My particular surgical mask. By the safe. My particular surgical mask, by the time safe. My particular surgical mask, by the time you i safe. My particular surgical mask, by the time you had j mask, by the time you had wrapped the loops around your ears, i had massive, gaping holes on my cheeks, so, you know, when you are in a bame of four People Coughing and spluttering in a bay, does not like the virus fix which direction to go, you know . Within a couple of days, rachel was really unwell. Her husband and two young sons tested positive soon afterwards. How do you feel about that . Really cross, because do you feel about that . Really cross, because the do you feel about that . Really cross, because the first i do you feel about that . Really cross, because the first wave l cross, because the first wave should have taught a lot of lessons. We couldnt isolate the patients, we didnt have proper ppe, we didnt have scrubs to fit us, you know . Its just basics, scrubs to fit us, you know . Itsjust basics, isnt scrubs to fit us, you know . Its just basics, isnt it . Three years after the pandemic started, we dont know exactly how many Health Workers caught covid at work. Irate how many Health Workers caught covid at work. Covid at work. We need to understand covid at work. We need to understand the covid at work. We need to understand the impact i covid at work. We need to understand the impact of| covid at work. We need to understand the impact of covid on the understand the impact of covid on the health workforce, and lots on the health workforce, and lots of on the health workforce, and lots of other Front Line Workers, and the only way we are going workers, and the only way we are going to do that is if we have are going to do that is if we have data. Are going to do that is if we have data are going to do that is if we have data. Employers have a leual have data. Employers have a legal duty have data. Employers have a legal duty to have data. Employers have a legal duty to report have data. Employers have a legal duty to report to have data. Employers have a legal duty to report to the i legal duty to report to the Health And Safety Executive when someone gets ill, injured, or dies because of work. It is called riddle reporting. David osborne is a health and safety consultant, who believes more cases should have been reported. Cases should have been reported cases should have been reported. Cases should have been reorted. � ,. ,. , reported. Its important to have it recognised reported. Its important to have it recognised that reported. Its important to l have it recognised that that disease, which could be with you for the rest of your life, and affect your career, it is important to have that recognised as having been attributable to occupational exposure, through your work. The trust employing rachel did report her case. For the trust employing rachel did report her case. Report her case. For me, it actually report her case. For me, it actually does report her case. For me, it actually does confirm report her case. For me, it actually does confirm that| report her case. For me, it| actually does confirm that i contracted the virus at work, which contracted the virus at work, which is contracted the virus at work, which is vital, because there is a which is vital, because there is a lot which is vital, because there is a lot of which is vital, because there is a lot of people with long covid is a lot of people with long covid who cant prove they got it at covid who cant prove they got it at woric covid who cant prove they got it at work. This is documented evidence, it at work. This is documented evidence, so this could be the difference between me actually getting difference between me actually getting some help towards me having getting some help towards me having the best long term condition, and not. But having the best longterm condition, and not. But she is one of only condition, and not. But she is one of only around condition, and not. But she is one of only around 13,000 i one of only around 13,000 Health Care Workers whose cases has been reported. With more than 1. 5 Million People working in health care, that number seems low. We wanted to find out more, so we sent an foia request to the Health And Safety Executive. The hse sent us this e mail exchange, dated 8th of april 2020, with an unnamed nhs trust. The trust says, as things stand, all Health Care Workers could be said to be exposed to covid as a result of their work. It adds that staff would expect cases to be reported, which could be very detrimental to the already fragile morale in the workforce. It doesnt give us a complete picture combo does hint at why trusts in the middle of an emergency may have been reluctant to report cases. If trusts had read all reported all of the ten cases with staff, what difference would it have made . A, staff, what difference would it have made . Have made . A dramatic difference have made . A dramatic difference i have made . A dramatic difference i think, have made . A dramatic i difference i think, because looking at the trends, the statistics, it would have identified that group of workers in health care are being disproportionately affected by the disease. That would have raised all sorts of red flags. It wouldve been a signal that we need to investigate why, why is this happening . The hse says its priority is to keep people safe at work. It accepts Riddor Reporting for Health Care Staff doesnt reflect the accurate number of those infected at work and says as Community Transmission increased, it became difficult to be certain where people were infected. Connie as the pandemic continued, the stakes remained high for Health Care Workers. Shall we have a look injasmines box . Jasmine, look whats in there. Look, we have mummys lanyards. Wow one of mummys lanyards, look. In january 2021, Health Care Assistant becky regan was working at the North Tyneside hospital. She had three daughters and was around seven months pregnant with her fourth. And mummy used to put it around her neck like that when she went into work, didnt she . Wow thats mummys phone. There were patients with covid on her ward. Theres mummy. Whos that . Mama, jazzy. Yeah. Imiss mummy. I know. Where is she . Up the sky. Up the sky, yeah. Right, right. Becky had a history of difficult pregnancies. This is a teddy bear and its got my mummy is an nhs hero on. How did she feel about being pregnant during a pandemic and working in a hospital . Really anxious. She did have a lot of time off sick because of anxiety levels. From the start of the pandemic, pregnant women were thought to be at greater risk from the virus. Were talking the nhs had a vulnerable, high risk Pregnancy Girl at 29 year old. She should never have been there. Not for one shift, two shift or any shifts at all. She shouldve been sent home. Becky got sick with covid. She was admitted to hospital and later treated in Intensive Care. Becky phoned me up at quarter to three in the morning and she did say to us, im going to die. She said, im going to die. Will you look after me girls . Its awful. Ijust said, no, youre not going to die. Youre stronger than this. Then they came on the phone and they said, shes got to go. Weve got to take her down. And they said, will you just tell her youll look after her girls . So, thats. Becky had an emergency caesarean. She died a week later. Her baby, jasmine, survived. Nurses caring for her kept a diary. Were so sorry for your loss. Youre having lots of cuddles. Youre active and alert, kicking around your incubator. You love your milk, we give it to you every two hours. 0h. Jasmine, whos two, now lives with her grandma tracey. Angel cakes, girls. Beckys daughters are among almost 800 families across the uk who got a one off payment of £60,000 under a Government Scheme for health and social care workers who died. Its only paid if its more likely than not the individual got the virus at work. An inquest later this year will consider the circumstances of beckys death. Northumbria Health Care Trust says its Deeply Saddened by her loss and says its always followed National Covid guidance. From the start of the pandemic, there was concern about the number of doctors, nurses and other staff who were dying. In 2020, a review was ordered into the deaths of health and social care workers. The aim to ensure lessons were learned to help protect front line staff, something the then Health Secretary matt hancock said in this letter was owed to those whod given their lives in duty and in service. The review has never been published. Weve talked to some people involved in it, they dont want to speak out publicly but say theyre unhappy that its not seen the light of day. The review needs to be in the public and we need to learn from it. The biggest tragedy would be if and when the next pandemic happens, if we have those same failings again. We need to know what we did wrong, so next time this happens we can do better. We asked the government about the review. It didnt respond. Well, this is exciting, isnt it . Mind your head. Its a bit like flying, itll pressurise you, just like a plane. 0k. 0k . Rachel and gordon are so desperate to feel better theyre paying for experimental Oxygen Therapy in a pressure chamber, similar to those used by divers. I honestly think if we dont gain much from this Oxygen Therapy, itll set our moods back massively because its the only thing weve got at the moment. Thats time up now, folks. How was it . Yeah, it was all right. Yeah, its the nicest date i weve been on for a long time. First time in ages. Rachels still off work and is trying to take a case against her trust. Even though her infection was reported to the hse, shes worried that if the trust says it followed ppe guidance, that may affect her chances. Im absolutely devastated. But i might not have a case against them now. And i just feel so angry. I dont know if i can ever do myjob again. Rachel continues to worry about her health, but until recently, she hasnt had to worry about money. When the pandemic first started, new sick pay rules came in for many nhs staff. If they got coronavirus or long covid they could be paid in full until they got better. But that has changed. Now theyre being treated like anyone else and some face going onto half pay in march. Are you still on full pay . I am initially and then pay will start dropping off. So, how worried are you about money . Really worried. I do appreciate the nhs cant pay us forever, but theres hope we can actually bring Something Back to the nhs again, you know . The torbay and South Devon Trust says its grateful to staff who worked tirelessly during the pandemic. It says it disputes rachaels allegations which are being robustly defended and is unable to comment further. Do you want to get ready for school . Sure. Dr ekta sahu also has long covid and is trying to get back to work. So, i realise i cant do any burst of activities. It has to be slow pace. Fatigue is the most prominent symptom, which is most disabling. Today, shes hoping to get through a four hour shift. Bit nervous because first day back to work after five and a half months, so dont know how it would go. Ektas moved hospitals since she got long covid. She says the new trust in warwickshire took her on while she was ill and are very supportive. I am someone who are fighting to come to a normal life. I dont want a benefit. I want to progress in my career. I want to become a consultant paediatrician. Shes glad to be back at work, but its tough. Normally, this is my place. I relax here, sit here. I didnt see any patients, so that part i missed. But i felt good at least i could do some of the work. Its just a bit emotional. Its a big day. Definitely a big day. No certainty about the future, but you still try to be positive. Its hard, but i will get there. She wants the impact of covid on Health Care Workers to be formally acknowledged. I think the long covid should be recognised as Occupationally Acquired Industrial Illness because other people had the choice to protect themselves from it, Health Worker didnt have. They were exposed to it. Ive come to meet an mp who agrees. Layla moran chairs a Cross Party Group looking at the uks handling of the pandemic. I think there are certain professions, health and social care staff, its transport workers, its teachers who are far more likely to be getting covid and long covid. We need to recognise long covid as an occupational disease, so that if they find themselves not able to work they are able to get the support that they so richly deserve. They want Health Care Workers to be compensated like they are in some other countries. We are falling behind our peers in our recognition of this as a real disease that needs proper recognition and compensation. So, all those Front Line Workers that we clapped for on a thursday, especially the ones who have lost theirjob, dont have any money now, have something that they can fall back on. What would the financial implications be of the Compensation Scheme youre asking for . Thats a lot of money to be paying out when theres not a lot of money coming in. I would also point out that we cant afford not to. If theyre well supported back into work then that would help the other crises that we are dealing with right now. Last year, scientists confirmed what many Health Care Workers have suspected all along about the risks they were exposed to. They had more than double the risk of, first of all, being infected due to the proximity to patients and clients and more than double the risk of dying from covid. Her councils now advising the government that health and social care workers with complications following covid, like Lung Scarring or heart attacks, should be eligible for industrial injuries benefits. But no recommendations been made about long covid itself. The trouble with long covid is that there isnt a, really, an agreed definition. There are lots and lots of different symptoms reported. Most of it is self reported because there arent agreed diagnostic tests. So, at this stage, we dont really have enough data. Do you think youll ever have that information . Im not sure we will. But we wont give up, well keep looking. So, how many nhs staff are off work with long covid . These numbers arent recorded in england and wales, but they are in Northern Ireland and scotland with 0. 6 and 0. 3 of their workforce absent. If these rates were reflected across the uk, it could mean between 5,000 and 10,000 nhs staff off sick. We have this group of people, theyrejust in a no mans land, we dont have the support for them. And, actually, that genuinely makes me angry that weve got a group of people that have put themselves forward to look after the population. Its just not acceptable. I havent been able to work for two years. In fact, im now on statutory sick pay and im facing the loss of myjob and income. And its just not fair for us. To put our necks on the line and to be treated this way. Weve had to sell the family home because we know that i wont have any income shortly, as many nhs staff now are losing their income. When brenda eadie got covid, she was working as an nhs nurse in a prison. She accepts she isnt going to be well enough to return to herjob. How do you feel right now . Angry, its angry and scared that the nhs workers and myself put my life at risk and ended up disabled. Shes only 45 but had hoped to take early retirement on the grounds of ill health because of long covid. Things didnt go the way shed hoped. Got a phone call from a manager to let me know that a letter was coming in the post, not to panic when i seen it. And it was my termination of employment. And i wasjust like, oh, ok. What do i do now, then . And i was told, well, i dont know. I guess you just take that letter to the benefits agency. Shes now unemployed. I done what was asked of me, i went into the front line, i done myjob, and now im just collateral damage. Her employers say it would be inappropriate to comment on an individual case, but say they do not recognise a number of points raised by brenda. They say they ensure all hr policies set at a National Level are followed at all times. The government accepts that long covid is having an impact on the nhs and says its guidelines encourage managers to test all options to support staff to get back to work. It says it will respond openly to the covid 19 public inquiry. The inquiry will start taking evidence in may. Its expected to be one of the largest in uk history. Scotlands holding its own inquiry. We need to learn from our mistakes, but to learn from them, we have to own them and acknowledge them and thats not happening at the moment. But it may be years before Health Workers get answers. Many say they cant afford to wait. Were back in the open world now where covid doesnt exist any more and lifes not really like that for the rest of us left behind. This is bbc news. Im rich preston. Our top stories alec baldwin has been charged with Involuntary Manslaughter over the Fatal Shooting on a film set in 2021. The white house has expressed outrage over the record annual profit made by the us oil giant exxonmobil. The Us Department ofjustice has charged four men in connection with the assassination of haitis president jovenel moise. Republican congressman George Santos is to step down from committees in the house after several calls to resign for repeatedly lying about his Family Background and work experience. And welcome to Liverpool Eurovision arrives for its official launch as the city that brought us the beatles stands in for ukraine
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