British Medical JournalLong COVID: The Doctors’ Lives Destroyed by an Illness They Caught While Doing Their Jobs

A Deep Dive into the Personal and Professional Struggles of Doctors Battling Long COVID

The British Medical Journal (BMJ) recently published an article highlighting the devastating impact of Long COVID on doctors. The piece sheds light on the personal and professional struggles faced by healthcare professionals who contracted the virus while performing their duties and are now grappling with its long-term effects.

HCN Medical Memo
This article underscores the urgent need for more support and recognition for healthcare professionals battling Long COVID. As they navigate their personal and professional challenges, it’s crucial that we acknowledge their sacrifices and provide them with the necessary resources to manage their condition.

Key Points

• The article features the story of Kelly Fearnley, a doctor who contracted COVID-19 while working in a ward full of COVID patients.
• Fearnley has been unable to work since contracting the virus and is currently living with her father.
• She co-founded Long COVID Doctors for Action (LCD4A), a support network for doctors affected by Long COVID.
• LCD4A campaigns for greater recognition of Long COVID and its impact on doctors’ health and careers.
• More than half (57%) of doctors worked full time before contracting COVID, but that proportion dropped to one in three (31%) after contracting the virus.
• Nearly half (49%) of respondents reported losing income due to Long COVID.

“He who has health, has hope; and he who has hope, has everything.”
– Thomas Carlyle

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