A man whose life has been “devastated” by “long Covid” has urged the prime minister to do more to help people living with the condition.
Darren Parkinson said he contracted the initial virus in 2021 and now struggles to leave his home as a result of the after-effects.
The 50-year-old from Bradford said it has cost him his job as a learning disability nurse for the NHS and forced him to stand down as a Green Party councillor on Shipley Town Council.
The government said it was “committed to ensuring those with the condition get the support they need”.
Long Covid symptoms include extreme tiredness, muscle aches, difficulty concentrating and shortness of breath.
It is estimated to affect about two million people in the UK and there is currently no cure.
Parkinson, who lives in Shipley, said his body “feels like it has been poisoned”.
“I don’t want me, and other people living with long Covid, to be forgotten,” he said.
“My message to the new prime minister and his government is really clear – do more to support people living with long Covid and invest more money for research to hopefully find a cure for this horrendous condition.”