Long Covid patients need help.
Where is it?

LETTER  TEMPLATE TO COPY AND PASTE FOR MPS BELOW!

​

INSTRUCTIONS

​

1. Open up the website Writetothem

​

2. Select the councillors, MSP's, MP's or House of Lords you want to write to.

​

3. Copy and paste the below template to them, making sure to add your personal experience if possible.

​

Write to them BLOCK identical messages that are coped and pasted entirely so please try and make as many small amendments as possible and feel free to add/amend/delete whatever want for your suitability. You can also write your own in entirety if you prefer.

​

4. Send!

​

[Date]

Dear [Your MP’s Name],

​

RE: Urgent Need for Biomedical Research into Treatments for Long Covid

I am writing to bring to your attention a matter of urgent concern that is affecting millions of people in the UK, including constituents in your area.

Long Covid is a post-viral condition that is estimated to affect as many as 1.9 million people in the UK. The symptoms of Long Covid are profoundly debilitating, and for many, the impact on their daily lives has been life-altering. These individuals are often left unable to work, manage daily activities, or access the care and support they desperately need. Tragically, many of those with Long Covid are now developing Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS), another post-viral condition that is equally devastating, also with very little biomedical research funding.

Patients with both Long Covid and ME/CFS suffer from debilitating fatigue, brain fog, pain, exertion intolerance, cardiac and respiratory issues and a host of other symptoms that have left an extremely poor quality of life. In fact, for many, their quality of life is so severely impacted that they are often unable to leave their homes, perform even basic daily tasks, or maintain social relationships. In the community there are an overwheling amount of previously fit and healthy young people who used to be competitive athletes and are now reliant on full time care from family members. As the 2022 All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) report notes, these conditions are life-limiting and can often result in patients becoming housebound or bedbound.

You may have noticed a Billboard Campaign in your constituency and across the UK, as well as on TV and social media, with the message:

 

LONG COVID and ME/CFS DESTROY LIVES
NO HELP. NO TREATMENTS. NO CURE
URGENT RESEARCH NOW!!!
WWW.NOTRECOVEREDUK.ORG

​

This campaign is a collaborative effort between people living with Long Covid and ME/CFS, many of whom are forced to self-fund these billboards because they are unable to work and have no access to sufficient government support. The message is clear: those suffering from these conditions need immediate action, treatments, and the resources for clinical trials.
In 2022, the APPG on Coronavirus published a report that included 10 critical recommendations aimed at addressing the Long Covid crisis. One of the key recommendations was that the UK government commit to a minimum of £100 million per year in dedicated funding for Long Covid research. This funding was deemed essential to support the necessary biomedical research to better understand the condition and develop effective treatments. Regrettably, this recommendation has not been acted upon, leaving millions of people with no clear path toward treatment or recovery.

It has now been nearly half a decade since the onset of the Long Covid pandemic, and yet no significant treatments have emerged. The situation remains dire for many people who are still suffering from persistent and disabling symptoms. In fact, some individuals have resorted to self-funding billboard campaigns to pressure the government into taking action, which highlights just how desperate the situation has become.
The 2022 APPG report also underscored the economic burden of Long Covid, estimating that the cost to the UK economy could be in the region of £5.7 billion. This cost is due to lost productivity, healthcare expenses, and welfare benefits. It is clear that Long Covid is not only a health crisis but an economic one as well.

The APPG’s 10 recommendations include calls for increased research funding, greater support for clinical trials, and improved access to specialist care. These recommendations represent a clear blueprint for how the government can address the urgent need for Long Covid treatment and support. However, the lack of progress in implementing these recommendations is deeply concerning.

As a constituent deeply affected by the lack of action on Long Covid, I urge you to take immediate steps to ensure that the government follows through on these vital recommendations. Specifically, I ask you to:
Advocate for a minimum of £100 million per year in government funding for Long Covid research to support biomedical scientists and clinical researchers in their efforts to develop treatments and interventions.
Press for an urgent commitment to large-scale clinical trials to explore potential treatments for Long Covid and better understand its underlying pathology.

Ensure that there is a coordinated effort across the NHS, including the establishment of specialist Long Covid clinics and comprehensive patient support networks, to provide timely and appropriate care to those affected.

By taking a leadership role in championing these crucial issues, you can help ensure that the government takes the necessary steps to alleviate the suffering of millions of people living with Long Covid. They need hope, they need treatments, and they need the government to act now.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your support in ensuring that Long Covid is taken seriously and that the 2022 APPG recommendations are acted upon without further delay.

​

Yours sincerely,
[Your Full Name and Address]