To ask the Minister for the Economy (i) for her assessment of the impact of long COVID on workers; and (ii) what actions she is taking to ensure that employers are supportive of a return to work for those facing the illness.

As part (i) of your question is of a medical nature, I sought advice from the Department of Health, with Minister Swann providing the following response:

‘We are still at the early stages in the development of our understanding of the long-term effects of COVID-19, and in particular what forms of treatment will be effective.

Since the publication by the National Institute for Care and Health Excellence (NICE) of a rapid guideline on the condition in December 2020, the Health and Social Care Board have been developing costed proposals for the assessment and treatment of people who continue to experience long-term health effects as a result of COVID-19 infection.

THE HSCB has recently submitted proposals to the Department of Health.

Once a final service model has been approved, work will be undertaken to deliver the appropriate services rapidly.

Although the recording of data on the condition continues in Northern Ireland, there will be insufficient data to conduct analysis for a number of months. In the interim, the available evidence and research on prevalence at the UK level continues to be monitored.

A recent publication by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates that 1.1 million people in private households in the UK are experiencing long COVID. This relates to self-reported long COVID, rather than clinically diagnosed ongoing symptomatic COVID-19 or post-COVID-19 syndrome. Of those people 26,000 were from Northern Ireland.’

I would expect employers to act with sensitivity and fairness to employees who find themselves in the situation of suffering from Long Covid.

As with any illness, disability or long term sick absence, employees should consult their GP or another health care professional, such as an occupational therapist. These discussions should focus on how the employee’s symptoms impact on their job, and how the work affects their symptoms.

Employers must follow their own sick absence policy and any relevant disability discrimination guidelines. Employers should also discuss practical steps or adjustments with the employee that may help when they return.

Employees who believe they are being treated or dismissed unfairly may be able to complain to an Industrial Tribunal. Anyone who finds themselves in this position may wish to consider contacting the Labour Relations Agency - Workplace Information Service on 03300 555 300 for confidential and impartial information.

In addition, the Law Centre NI provides free, independent, specialist legal advice (subject to capacity) on employment rights. The Law Centre can be contacted on their advice line on 028 9024 4401 or by email: employmentadvice@lawcentreni.org.