Long Covid in healthcare staff

Researchers at Robert Gordon University explore the experiences of healthcare staff with Long Covid.

The first UK wide lockdown of the Covid-19 pandemic took place on 23 March 2020, and little was known about the short- and longer-term effects. It has since become apparent that for some people, the effects of Covid-19 infection can last significantly longer than the acute viral infection.

Most people who catch COVID-19 do not become severely ill and get better quickly. However, some people experience symptoms and long-term effects that last long after the main infection. Sometimes these symptoms emerge sometime after recovering from the original infection and/or if the symptoms were mild in the first place.

“Long Covid” is the name given by patients to describe the longer-term effects of COVID-19 infection, and the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates about 1.3 million people in the UK (2% of the population) have long Covid (with symptoms lasting more than four weeks). These persistent symptoms commonly include fatigue, “brain fog”, shortness of breath, chest pain and palpitations, joint pain, and many other complex symptoms that make life harder for them. These diverse symptoms can come and go, and can have a devastating impact on the long-term health and wellbeing of those affected.

Long Covid in healthcare workers

Healthcare workers, at the heart of the pandemic, account for between 10 to 19% of the worldwide COVID-19 cases. In Scotland, the risk of healthcare workers testing positive for COVID-19 was seven times higher than for non-essential workers, and their households contributed to a sixth of cases admitted to hospital. Recent estimates found approximately 122,000 NHS workers in the UK were suffering from long Covid, with a prevalence of almost 14% at 12 weeks post-infection.[i]

There is still a lot of uncertainty around the progression and future prognosis of Long Covid. Clinical investigations and potential treatment options are at an early stage, and the impact of vaccines on the incidence of Long Covid is still uncertain, although emerging reports are encouraging.

With NHS staff shortages a concern before the pandemic (up to 8% of posts vacant in Scotland pre-pandemic), it is highly likely there will be more shortages due to the impact of Long Covid on staff. As this is a new condition, there is very little information about the experience of Long Covid in healthcare workers, how it affects their health and wellbeing, their use of healthcare, and the impact on their work and personal finances.

Why is research needed?

For some people the impact of Long Covid on their physical and mental wellbeing has been catastrophic, and this may mean they are not able to work at all. For others, it might mean they work for fewer hours or are doing a different job.  Over half of healthcare workers who have returned are likely to experience ongoing lack of energy or fatigue, and it is likely that their colleagues are supporting them, which means the impact of Long Covid will extend beyond the person with the actual symptoms.

It is highly likely that Long Covid is affecting their home life too. They may not be able to keep up with domestic and family life as well as they were able to before they took ill with Covid-19 and Long Covid. This could also have an impact on personal and household finances.

What we’re doing: The Long Covid in NHS Workers study

Long Covid in NHS workers (LoCH) is a questionnaire and interview study, and includes any NHS workers in Scotland who believe they have Long Covid. We have collected data from NHS workers using an online questionnaire survey and then interviewed NHS staff to explore their experience of living with Long Covid. NHS workers involved in the study include nurses, midwives, doctors, allied health professionals, and administrative and ancillary staff (such as secretaries, porters, cleaners and other support staff).

Recruitment to the study is now closed and we are analysing the first round of data collected. We will be getting back in touch with the people taking part in the next few months to find out how they are getting on and if there are any changes to their Long Covid symptoms, health and wellbeing and their work situation. We intend to publish findings in high impact journals, and hope that this research will help in understanding the lived experience of NHS staff with Long Covid, and improve workplace support, now and in the future.

This study is funded by the Chief Scientist Office (COV/LTE/20/32).

[i] Office for National Statistics, “Estimated prevalence of self-reported long COVID among healthcare workers by sex and age group, UK; four week period ending 5 September 2021” (11 Oct 2021). Available here (this link will take you away from our website).

End of document.

End of page.