Are you a healthcare worker who caught COVID at work and suffered serious injury as a result?
If so, you are invited to join our group litigation.
A significant number of UK healthcare workers (HCWs) have suffered injury following occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2. In many cases, HCWs contracted COVID at work whilst providing care to patients in absence of adequate airborne protections.
Long Covid Doctors for Action (LCD4A) is a campaign and advocacy group. We believe there now needs to be legal accountability and justice for HCWs injured. Last week, we shared our plans to pursue group litigation with the national press (links at the end).
Note. Our group litigation action is not just for doctors.
LCD4A is committed to help all healthcare workers (doctors, nurses, domestic staff, porters, allied healthcare professionals etc) in all nations seek justice.
If you are a HCW who has been occupationally exposed to SARS-CoV-2 and has experienced significant injury as a result, you are invited to join our group litigation.
What do I need to do?
The firm, Bond Turner, are the group legal representatives for those injured in England and Wales. Jackson Boyd, are the legal representatives for those in Scotland. We are currently collating the details of HCWs injured in NI and will do all we can to help this group secure legal representation.
>> Healthcare workers injured in ENGLAND and WALES: If you are a HCW injured in England or Wales, please contact the legal firm, Bond Turner. https://www.bondturner.com/services/covid-group-claim/
>> Healthcare workers injured in SCOTLAND: If you are a HCW injured in Scotland please contact the legal firm, Jackson Boyd, https://www.jacksonboyd.co.uk/
>> Healthcare workers injured in NORTHERN IRELAND: Please complete this short form if you are a HCW interested to pursue group litigation after contracting COVID at work in NORTHERN IRELAND only. https://forms.gle/fjeBeQMGUegk2W6b8
Completion of this form will allow us to collate the details of HCWs injured in NI interested to pursue group litigation. We hope to secure legal representation for this group.
Limitation Period
Some of you may be aware that an injured person usually has a time period of 3 years from the date they contracted their illness, or ought reasonably to have known that they had suffered an illness due to the fault of another, within which to issue court proceedings in any claim. Those who fail to submit a claim within this time period may be time barred.
Please do not be put off if you were infected in 2020. The legal firms will do all they can to bring legal action on your behalf.
It is important that the names of those wanting to join our group litigation effort are collated and presented in a timely manner.
To put it simply, this ship is not yet sailing but it is soon to set sail. If you want onboard, please contact the relevant firm in a timely manner. We understand this is a lot to take in, especially when you are brain-foggy and unwell. But it is important that those interested to join our group litigation act.
If you are unsure what to do, advice would be: contact the firm, express your interest and have the retainer paperwork emailed to you as soon as possible. It is not until you sign and return the relevant retainer paperwork that you have retained the services of the firm. Do not delay in contacting the firm. The sooner you contact; the sooner the paperwork can be sent; the more time you have to read and digest the paperwork; the more time you have to make an informed decision.
Again, It is not until you sign and return the relevant retainer paperwork that you have retained the services of the firm.
Group litigation aims
The aims of our group litigation effort are four-fold
- Achieve justice for those injured. Last year a survey conducted by the BMA and LCD4A found that almost one in five responding doctors (18%) with long COVID were no longer able to work, and nearly half (49%) of the 603 respondents said that they had lost income as a result of Long COVID. Those injured have not only lost their health and independence, many have lost their ability to work and earn a living.
- To improve airborne protections going forward. We got infected because our employers failed to protect us against airborne transmission, the main way COVID is transmitted. Despite political silence, COVID is still circulating at high levels and poses a significant threat to health. Workers have a legal right to be protected at work and patients have a right to be cared for in safe environments. More needs to be done to stop COVID transmission. We hope this action brings about positive change and leads to better airborne protections.
- Future protection. Workers’ lives are not dispensable. Guidance written must be based on science. The same mistakes cannot be repeated. If we don’t hold those responsible legally to account the same mistakes will continue to be made, both now and in the future.
- Setting a legal precedent. We hope our group litigation effort helps other groups (e.g. workers in other industrial sectors (e.g. education), patient groups) start their own group litigation process.
We look forward to fighting alongside those of you who decide to retain the services of the aforementioned firms.
Thanks everyone,
Long Covid Doctors for Action
We are a small dedicated team. Please contact the relevant legal team in the first instance. They will help establish if you have a case.
You can follow us on Twitter for general guidance and support, or write to us at lcd4a@hotmail.com and we will do our best to assist you.
Media links – National Call to Action
BMJ: https://www.bmj.com/content/384/bmj.q188
BBC Sounds Woman’s hour (starts approx 2 min 40): https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001vl9b?fbclid=IwAR0quinqV4LDS5XswINHErG1a4TjhHzUxMyxJ3_PNoq6foHKGwKp7lRhxc