North Yorkshire families call for more research into Long Covid
It's estimated more 2.2 million people have the condition
Last updated 13th Jan 2023
Families across North Yorkshire are calling for more support for children suffering with Long Covid.
13 year-old Pixie lives in York and caught the virus just over a year ago but still comes home from school exhausted and has aches and pains. She tells us: "It's weird, not like you can go to sleep, but tired like you just have to lay down all the time...Since January it's just gone up and down, in Summer I feel better, in Winter I feel awful because I just come home and I'm in pain, I get cold and I can't go to school."
Her Mum Mary says it's heart-breaking to see her daughter still unwell after all this time: "Even at Guides she can't sit on the floor because it hurts here knees so she has got to sit on a chair. She couldn't join in the carol concert because it was too cold and that's when her joints start aching. She just feels generally rubbish with sore eyes."
She is also calling for more research into the condition: "I think they need to look into it a lot more, I don't know necessarily know if there is anything they can give the children, but they can give more advice and support. More often than not you can tell someone my daughter has Long Covid and it's like rolling their eyes, as if they don't believe you."
A recent study by the University of York suggested many people with Long Covid aren't getting the support they need.
Dr Sarah Baz, a Research Fellow in the Department of Health Sciences at the University said: “We hope our study will help amplify the voices of the estimated 2.2 million people suffering from Long Covid and bring further public attention to the barriers people face to accessing healthcare support for the condition.”
“We need more investment in LC healthcare support, improved access to services and greater recognition for the condition. We must also address mistrust in healthcare services amongst ethnic minorities to provide them better support."