Write to your MP

We wish for everyone to have their say and raise awareness about how Long Covid has impacted Teachers lives across the nation. We have constructed two letters that you can use and write to your MP with. Letter 1 is tailored for you, the person with Long Covid. In the letter you can add a personal section on how Long Covid has impacted your life. Letter 2 is for friends and family who have witnessed at first hand the life changing impacts it has had on your life. The more people write to their MPs, the more they have to take note.

 

You can search for your local MP via the GOVT website. https://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/contact-an-mp-or-lord/contact-your-mp/

Letter 1

Add your own name and address

Date and contact email

(Name of MP)
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA

Dear (Name of MP),

I am writing to you as my Member of Parliament for Stafford to raise concerns about the support available for teachers who have contracted Covid-19 in their workplace and are now suffering from debilitating post COVID-19 syndrome/long COVID. The lasting health effects of long COVID have severely impacted the ability of many teachers to continue working, and I am eager to understand what assistance the Government is providing to those affected.

During the pandemic, the Government made decisions regarding the safety of schools that left teachers at an increased risk of becoming infected with COVID, and subsequently developing long COVID. Inadequate protection, ventilation, and poor recognition of Covid’s airborne nature meant that teachers were exposed to high levels of the virus in their workplaces. Today, teachers represent one of the highest groups affected by long COVID.

The teachers who stepped up to serve society during one of the most difficult periods in recent history now find themselves abandoned by the system. This not only represents a personal tragedy for those affected but also a significant loss to the education sector, as experienced professionals are forced to leave the workforce. We urgently need a comprehensive support system that provides financial assistance, pension protection, and medical support to those who have had their lives derailed by long COVID.

(Write a paragraph, or more about how Long Covid has impacted on your life – as much or as little detail as you feel necessary.)

Specifically, I would appreciate it if you could answer the following questions:

1. What financial support is available to teachers who are no longer able to work due to long COVID?
   Many teachers who have contracted Covid-19 while carrying out their duties are now facing long-term health problems, affecting their capacity to continue working. What Government-backed financial aid or compensation is available to them? We are struggling to pay our bills and have lost our earnings and pensions as a result of long COVID.
2. What specific measures are in place to protect the employment rights of teachers who cannot return to work due to long COVID?
   It is important that these individuals are not left vulnerable to job loss or financial instability. What protections or policies are in place to safeguard their employment or provide long-term support? 
3. How is the Government supporting the overall wellbeing and healthcare needs of teachers affected by long COVID?
   Teachers suffering from long COVID require significant medical care and ongoing support. What provisions are in place to ensure that they have access to the necessary treatments, rehabilitation, and any other support services? The long COVID clinics are both inadequate and inappropriate. Many teachers are having to try and access support from private clinics which are costly and are therefore inaccessible to many affected who now do not have any financial income.
4. Legal Recognition and Disability: Long COVID must be recognised as a disability. Without this recognition, many teachers are unable to access basic benefits, ill-health retirement, or receive adequate workplace support. What steps is the Government taking to address this?
5. Ill-Health Retirement and Pension Protection: Teachers suffering from long COVID are at risk of being forced out of their profession without the appropriate support, and their pensions are being jeopardised by early retirement on grounds of ill health. How will the Government ensure that these teachers can retire with dignity, with their pensions fully protected?
6. Long COVID is an Occupational/industrial Disease: When will the Government recognise Covid-19 as an occupational/industrial disease for teachers, allowing them to claim compensation, given that many contracted the virus while working in schools during the pandemic?

I would appreciate it if you could provide detailed answers to these questions, along with any information on relevant initiatives or upcoming plans that might assist teachers in this situation. Your response will be invaluable in helping to bring clarity to those in the teaching profession who are affected by this issue and are unsure of what support is available to them.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your response and to hearing how you will support teachers like myself who are struggling to rebuild their lives after this illness.

Yours sincerely,

Letter 2

Name, Address, Email, Number

Date

xxxxxxx MP
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA

Dear xxxxxx,

I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to you as a concerned family member of a teacher who has been severely affected by long COVID after contracting the virus in their workplace. This situation has deeply impacted their health, career, and quality of life, and I am reaching out to understand what the Government is doing to provide support for teachers like them.

Throughout the pandemic, decisions about the safety of schools placed many teachers at increased risk of exposure to COVID-19, particularly because of inadequate protections, poor ventilation, and delays in recognizing the airborne nature of the virus. As a result, teachers have been one of the groups most affected by long COVID. Many who selflessly stepped up to support their students during these unprecedented times now find themselves suffering from the long-term consequences of this illness.

It is devastating to see the lasting impact of long COVID, not only on individual teachers and their families but also on the education sector, as experienced professionals are forced out of the workforce. These dedicated teachers, including my family member, deserve a support system that addresses their needs – from financial assistance to medical care and pension protection. Sadly, they feel abandoned by the system.

The family member I am writing about was once a fit, healthy, and active teacher, committed to their students and passionate about their work. Since contracting the virus, their life has been turned upside down. They now suffer from a range of severe, debilitating symptoms, including mobility and cognitive issues, which have left them mostly housebound and dependent on others for care. Their career has been completely derailed, and the financial strain is overwhelming. It’s heart-wrenching to see someone who was once so full of life struggling with such a devastating condition.

I would be grateful if you could answer the following questions on behalf of my family member and other teachers who are suffering in similar situations:

1. Financial Support: What financial assistance is available to teachers who can no longer work due to long COVID? Many have lost their income, pensions, and are struggling to make ends meet.
2. Employment Rights: What protections are in place for teachers who cannot return to work? How can we ensure that they are not left vulnerable to job loss and financial insecurity?
3. Healthcare Support: What is the Government doing to support the medical needs of teachers with long COVID? Access to adequate treatment and rehabilitation is crucial, yet many are forced to turn to private clinics due to insufficient public health support, which is unaffordable for most.
4. Disability Recognition: Will the Government formally recognise long COVID as a disability, allowing affected teachers to access essential benefits and support, including ill-health retirement?
5. Pension Protection and Early Retirement: How will the Government ensure that teachers suffering from long COVID can retire with dignity and without losing their pensions, particularly if they are forced to take early retirement on health grounds?
6. Occupational Disease Status: Will the Government recognise COVID-19 as an occupational disease for teachers, allowing them to claim compensation for contracting the virus while performing their duties?

I would greatly appreciate your response and any information on current or future plans to assist teachers like my family member who are facing immense challenges. These individuals have dedicated their lives to education, and they deserve to know what support is available to them in the face of such a life-altering illness.

Thank you for taking the time to consider this important issue. I look forward to your response and hope to hear how you plan to support teachers in need.

Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]