Former Glasgow nurses warn more staff could develop long covid

Former Glasgow nurses with long covid are warning more staff could catch the virus and develop long term conditions this winter because of a lack of public health messaging.

Brenda Eadie caught the virus back in 2020 and claims she is becoming a danger to herself after she accidentally set herself on fire last week.

"My dressing gown sleeve was on fire"

She told Clyde 1: "I could smell something and my sister turned around and told me my dressing gown sleeve was on fire.

"It did not even register because of my horrendous brain fog which leaves me struggling to react to things.

"I regularly walk into walls because I do not always have a sense of direction and sometimes I feel like I do not know what planet I am on."

Valerie Anderson worked at Inverclyde Royal for 39 years and caught coronavirus three years ago before the vaccine was on offer.

"There are also times when I feel a bit better, but then I suddenly relapse"

She is worried she will never get her old life back and feels as though people living with the condition are being forgotten about.

She said: "I am scared of life and I cannot forget what I saw in my work during the early days of this pandemic.

"This has devastated the lives of so many nurses and doctors.

"There are also times when I feel a bit better, but then I suddenly relapse.

"It is debilitating."

Stuart McIver from Long Covid Scotland is telling us that the group is seeing a big rise in the numbers of people coming to them for help.

He said: "Some people do recover from long covid, but unfortunately that is not the norm.

"I have been ill for three years and I have not actually spoken to anyone about a long covid pathway.

"The only useful interventions I've had are through the private healthcare route - it is pretty damning."

We have asked the Scottish Government for comment.

Hear the latest news on Clyde 1 on FM, DAB, smart speaker or the Rayo app.