A woman who was ‘decimated’ by long covid has told councillors how the condition left her unable to sit up or even open her eyes for a few seconds.
Fran Haddock, 34, a former veterinarian surgeon in Sheffield was diagnosed with long covid after contracting the virus in 2022.
The chronic condition left her housebound and unable to work.
Her story was broadcasted as part of a Healthwatch report during yesterday’s health and wellbeing city council meeting.
In the video she said: “The infection rapidly left me confined to a dark room unable to sit up, walk to the toilet or even open my eyes for more than a few seconds due to relentless and torturous symptoms from fatigue and weakness so severe I often couldn’t even move my legs in bed or turn over.”
While she was unable to attend, her testimony advocated for all those suffering with the effects of long covid emphasising the need for more education.
Speaking to ShefNews about her condition, she said: “People don’t understand what we are going through.
“We are being demonised by the public and told that we are just lazy.”
Error: No feed found.
Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to create a feed.
The board meeting featured a report from Healthwatch Sheffield, a health and social care organisation dedicated to helping those dismissed by healthcare professionals or isolated by their condition.
Chief Officer of Healthwatch, Lucy Davies said: “There is really clearly a need for better support.”
“People need care and support where they feel believed and understood and where there is trust.”
She called on the council to do more promoting public information and awareness for the condition to create a safer space for sufferers and validate their experiences.
She said: “It’s about knowledge and information and people’s understanding of the condition both by the public and health care professionals.”
Research by the University of Southampton showed that almost 1 in every 10 people reported having long covid with symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, brain fog and heart palpitations.
The report also showed high rates among people living in deprived areas and with particular ethnic backgrounds.
In 2021 a long covid rehabilitation hub was opened at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to support patients.
Ms Davies said: “Without the hub there will be no specialist provisions for people with long covid in Sheffield.”