Long COVID and Digestive Symptoms: What the Research Tells Us
Research summary exploring digestive manifestations of Long COVID, including gut microbiome changes, IBS risk and potential treatment approaches.
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This article by the ME Association discusses how proposed UK welfare and employment policy changes pose serious risks for people with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) or Long Covid – especially those on long-term sickness or disability benefits.
Key points include:
| The government’s Green Paper proposes abolishing the “Work Capability Assessment” and increasing mandatory work-search/preparation activities for those currently exempt. |
| For many people with ME/CFS or Long Covid, forced or high-intensity work activity can lead to serious health deterioration. |
| Survey data collected by the association show very high proportions of people with these illnesses are unable to work or volunteer: ~70% unable to work a paid job; 94% unable to manage self-employment. |
Recommendations include:
| Secure income while people test their tolerance for work rather than being forced into unsuitable activity. |
| Stronger enforcement of inclusive, flexible employment practices (remote work, rest breaks, reduced hours) for employers recruiting people with health conditions. |
| Better and faster support via schemes like “Access to Work” to assist disabled people to work, and improvements in how Job Centres engage with people with ME/CFS or Long Covid. |
Download the article by clicking here.
