A young woman who has become bedridden with a full-time carer following a severe case of Covid has voiced her dismay, saying the government has abandoned patients like her to 'rot' after the pandemic. Charlotte Hoyle has spoken out about how her life aspirations have been shattered due to the ongoing effects of the virus, which include memory issues, intense exhaustion, and muscle pain. Even three years later, she's incensed by allegations that clinics for long Covid sufferers are being closed.

The 34 year old, a second-year psychology undergraduate when she first fell sick, now depends on full-time care, only getting out of bed for bathing and using the restroom. She describes a frustrating year-long wait just to get a fibromyalgia diagnosis and continues with tests to determine if she also has chronic fatigue syndrome, both of which she suspects were triggered by Covid-19.

"I was a full-time psychology student at the University of Huddersfield when this all started," she recounted. "I was happy, and I was enjoying life on my new career path," reports the Manchester Evening News. "I loved doing yoga, singing, spending time with family. Prior to Covid I was ambitious and health-conscious."

Charlotte, hailing from Rochdale, first caught the virus in December 2022. However, by February 2023, she began to experience debilitating symptoms that felt like a 'mix between extreme flu and an extreme hangover.' "I had the virus previously – but this time it felt different," she continued. "My heart rate was extremely high, and I struggled to breathe.

"I went to my GP, but I had to wait five months before being referred to a long Covid clinic. The clinic then referred me to a specialist for further investigation, but it took another six months to see them." During this period, in early 2023, Charlotte revealed she developed around 30 'debilitating health conditions,' which included early-onset dementia, extreme fatigue and severe body aches. She was officially diagnosed with fibromyalgia in October 2024 and is awaiting a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome. Charlotte attributes both conditions to long Covid.

Long Covid refers to persistent symptoms of Covid-19, or new symptoms that emerge after a Covid-19 infection. In March 2023, an estimated 1.9 million people in the UK reported experiencing long Covid, equating to 2.9 per cent of the population. Of these, 1.3 million had symptoms that had persisted for more than a year and 762,000 had symptoms lasting for more than two years, according to research published in October by Parliament.

"I am now housebound because of my health problems," she explained. "My quality of life is now that of a cancer patient, if not worse. I sleep 12-13 hours per night, but it is unrefreshed sleep. I wake up feeling like I haven't slept, with an extreme migraine, dizziness, low blood pressure. Basically, I am able to get up to go to the toilet and then back into bed."

Despite now receiving full-time care, Charlotte claims that her health worsened rapidly from an infection to chronic conditions due to the lack of government support for NHS funding. "At the moment I have full-time care," she expressed. "But just don't feel like I am part of society anymore. I've got this invisible illness that has made me completely invisible. I have been left to rot. I, and thousands of others, including children, have been left. It's like Covid isn't acknowledged these days – people seem reluctant to discuss it, the counting of cases has stopped, and even long Covid clinics are closing down." The office of Charlotte’s local MP, Paul Waugh, acknowledged that the government is currently reviewing post-Covid care services.

A representative from the office confirmed: "We can confirm that in September 2024 NHS England began undertaking a stocktake that will provide a more accurate, in-depth overview of the position of post-Covid-19 services throughout England. This will cover long Covid."

Mr Waugh himself stated: "Charlotte's story is deeply moving and underscores the profound impacts of prolonged neglect and underfunding by prior administrations. People afflicted with long Covid and ME/CFS have too often been disregarded, enduring excessive waiting periods, service shutdowns, and insufficient recognition in the healthcare sector.

"I'm proud to be a Parliamentary Champion of the Action for ME campaign and a member of the APPG on ME and long Covid. Since entering Parliament, I've been pressing for faster action - and I welcome the commitment from the current government to finally deliver the long-overdue ME/CFS delivery plan this year.

"This plan is essential to improving care, training healthcare professionals, and accelerating research into these life-altering conditions. For people like Charlotte, it can't come soon enough. We must ensure that the mistakes of the past are not repeated and that those with post-viral conditions receive the support, respect and treatment they deserve."

Greater Manchester health leaders have confirmed that services for long Covid remain accessible throughout the region. Dr Manisha Kumar, chief medical officer for NHS Greater Manchester, acknowledged: "We acknowledge the challenges Charlotte and many others living with long Covid and associated conditions face and are glad she has accessed specialist support, including from dedicated long Covid clinics.

"We encourage her to continue seeking advice and support from healthcare professionals and local patient advocacy groups. Long Covid services remain available across Greater Manchester, and we are committed to ensuring that individuals living with long Covid receive the care they need. In recent months, significant work has been done to develop a service providing comprehensive care for people with long Covid, myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and other related conditions. This aims to ensure consistent support across all areas of Greater Manchester, addressing existing gaps in services.

"A key focus is improving early diagnosis and treatment while reducing long waits. As people continue to be diagnosed with long Covid, we recognise the need to offer timely intervention, reducing the risk of prolonged illness and improving long-term outcomes. We also understand the wider impact beyond physical health, affecting work, finances, and mental wellbeing.

"We are working with patient groups to better understand their experiences to strengthen support across the city-region."

However, for Charlotte, this understanding can't come quickly enough. "I can't turn to science for help, I can't turn to my doctor, I pay hundreds of pounds for supplements and private appointments for therapy to get help," she revealed. "I had such a dream of the life I wanted to create, to become a psychologist, to help people, now I feel left with no help. Not only have I lost my life, but I have lost my identity.

"We can't even protest as we're too sick. We are completely stuck." Charlotte has voiced concerns that despite questions being raised about long Covid research to the government, action appears to be lacking. On the other hand, the government insists it is actively funding research into the condition.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care asserted: "We are committed to ensuring there are quality services across the country for people suffering with long Covid, which we know can have a debilitating impact on people's physical and mental health."

They added, "No single treatment currently exists for the condition, which is why we are funding research into it. We are also joining up health and employment support so people with long term conditions can stay in work and get back into work."

Dr Shona McCallum, Medical Director at Rochdale Care Organisation, part of the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, highlighted the local efforts: "The Rochdale Post Acute Covid-19 Service provides dedicated support for people experiencing ongoing symptoms after Covid-19, helping them manage their recovery and improve their quality of life."

She elaborated, "Since opening in 2023, the service has supported patients, offering personalised care from a team of dedicated healthcare professionals. By working closely with specialist consultants, allied health professionals and nursing colleagues, the service ensures patients receive the right treatment, rehabilitation, and advice tailored to their needs."

NHS England has been approached for further remarks.