Despite the progress in understanding LONG-COVID, there is still much to learn. We know that the Office of National Statistics reported in March 2023 that an estimated 1.9 million people living in private households in the UK reported suspected having long COVID. Many have reported day-to-day activities being limited, feeling fatigued, complained of muscle ache and shortness of breath, as some of the identified unexplained symptoms post COVID.
The Society are keen to explore how many dental nurses are struggling with symptoms identified as long COVID
a) how it is impacting on your motivation to work,
b) how is it affecting your ability to work to your full capacity,
c) what impact is it having on the workplace and
d) what adaptations have been made if any, in the your workplace?
Office of National Statistics (2023) Prevalence of on-going symptoms following coronavirus (COVID-19) infection in the UK:30 March 2023, available at https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/bulletins/prevalenceofongoingsymptomsfollowingcoronaviruscovid19infectionintheuk/30march2023 Accessed 6th April 2023
NHS England offer an overview of ‘What is long COVID? https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/covid-19/long-term-effects-of-covid-19-long-covid/ Another useful link https://www.yourcovidrecovery.nhs.uk/app/
The Society are keen to establish how many dental nurses and dental nurse students are living with symptoms that mirror long- COVID – We have also placed a survey on our instagram page. Can you help?
Do you have a COVID recovery plan? Are you a carer for someone who has long COVID? – dentistry is not going to be immune to this and it will impact on teams, so let’s start talking. admin@bdns.org.uk