Call for urgent reform ahead of Inquiry Module 3 report
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LONG COVID PATIENT GROUPS CALL FOR URGENT REFORM AHEAD OF LANDMARK UK COVID-19 INQUIRY REPORT
Long Covid Kids, Long Covid SOS, Long Covid Physio and Long Covid Support today issue their core demands ahead of the release of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry’s Module 3 report. Due for release on Thursday (19 March), Module 3 of the Inquiry explored the impact of the pandemic on healthcare systems across the four nations of the UK.
The groups, which together represent hundreds of thousands of Long Covid sufferers and their families, including many healthcare workers severely affected, say that the Module 3 report must make ambitious recommendations to address the ongoing and systemic failures impacting at least 2 million adults and children with Long Covid across the UK.
The Long Covid Groups asks are:
That the government urgently re-instates Covid-safe measures in all healthcare settings, to prevent continued harm to the professionals who have given so much;
That Long Covid is prescribed as an occupational disease for healthcare workers;
Equitable access to specialist, multidisciplinary Long Covid clinics for adults and dedicated paediatric services across all four nations.
Our demands in full are provided below.
Nicola Ritchie, an NHS physio who contracted Covid-19 at her workplace and developed debilitating Long Covid resulting in her being unable to work:
“I was not provided with full PPE… I thought that because I was fit and healthy and I had recovered from other infections I had picked up at the hospital that I would recover quickly from Covid-19. To this day I have not seen any public health warnings about the risk of suffering persistent and life changing symptoms from Covid-19. It greatly concerns me that most people do not understand that they are at risk of losing their health and suffering long term harm from Covid-19.”
Natalie Rogers, a deputy head teacher who contracted Covid-19 whilst distributing free school meals in March 2020 developed Long Covid resulting in her being unable to work:
“Long Covid has had a significant impact on my career. Prior to getting ill in March 2020, I was a healthy, successful school leader working in a fast-paced environment. In my view there is a risk that future pandemic emergencies will make the same mistakes unless urgent attention is paid to those who have suffered direct harm from SARS-CoV-2. It is an unhappy truth that people continue to contract Covid-19 and continue to develop Long Covid without adequate surveillance, mitigations, public health communications or treatment.”
From a parent supporter of Long Covid Kids – who has had to give up a successful career to look after their child:
‘’The government claims to want to get children back to school and adults back to work but is failing to consider the health impacts of the pandemic. I had to give up work to care full time for my son who is bedbound with Long Covid and M.E. and unable to access education or home healthcare. Germany is apparently investing €500 million in research, but the UK is closing all the long covid services, and our children remain largely unsupported and invisible!”
Jo Platt MP, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Long Covid, says:
“People living with Long Covid have shown extraordinary strength in the face of ongoing challenges, and their voices must be met with action. I hope the Inquiry’s findings highlight the need for greater awareness, stronger investment in research, and better care so that no one - patients, healthcare workers, or children - is left behind. In Parliament, I’m committed to driving coordinated action across Government, communities, researchers, educators and families so that people with Long Covid receive the support they need.”
AHEAD OF MODULE 3 THE GROUPS' DEMANDS IN FULL
In advance of the Module 3 report (due for release on Thursday 19 March), the groups’ demands are:
Urgently review the current IPC guidance to recognise airborne transmission
Immediate reinstatement of Covid-safe measures in all healthcare settings, including FFP3 masks, improved ventilation and HEPA filtration
An independent statutory body for clean air, to conduct reviews of ventilation in public buildings, prioritising healthcare settings and schools within six months of reports publication
The UK Government should prescribe Long Covid as an occupational disease for healthcare workers
Immediate resumption of Covid surveillance by UKHSA and devolved health authorities, in line with WHO guidance
Ringfenced, dedicated funding for Long Covid services
Equitable access to specialist, multidisciplinary Long Covid clinics for adults and dedicated paediatric services across all four nations.
NHS, in all 4 nations, in consultation with other stakeholders should prepare clinical education materials on Long Covid, also including bespoke materials about its presentation in children and young people
NICE guidelines should be updated to include bespoke materials about its presentation in children and young people
A public health messaging campaign on the risks of Long Covid, including the risks to children
Clinicians, patients and parents should be informed about Long Covid in children and young people through public health campaigns and clinical educational material
Renewed, adequately funded research into Long Covid, with paediatric Long Covid as a priority
Formalised mechanisms for patient advocates to participate in pandemic planning
The UK government and devolved administrations should monitor and study the differential impact of Long Covid
NHSE and all other health authorities ensure that Long Covid healthcare addresses and overcomes new, and pre-existing healthcare and health inequalities
The groups have said previously that the Module 2 report (published on 20 November 2025) already confirmed what they have been saying for five years:
that Long Covid was foreseeable;
that the public was never properly warned;
that planning took no account of it;
and that the Government was slow to acknowledge it.