Living with long Covid: Join our expert panel to discuss why it is the UK’s next health crisis

Here’s how to get a free ticket to The Independent’s virtual event on long Covid

Living with long Covid: The UK's next health crisis (Getty Images)

The UK may have now passed the worse of the pandemic, but the burden of long Covid is only going to intensify in the weeks and months ahead.

Estimates suggest that well over a million people are suffering from the condition, nearly half of whom have struggled with persistent symptoms for at least a year.

Many will have developed long Covid after the recent Omicron wave, which fuelled millions of weekly infections over the Christmas period.

Living with long Covid virtual event: Sign up for your free ticket here

Yet support and treatment for these individuals has been in short supply. The NHS’ dedicated long Covid clinics have struggled to cope with high demand from patients, who feel neglected and ignored by the health system.

Some ‘long haulers,’ as they’re known, have come together to form support groups and have regularly petitioned the government for more help and recognition of their plight.

Despite the many challenges that lie ahead, there is some hope on the horizon: scientists are starting to make progress in better understanding long Covid and closing in on some of the biggest questions surrounding the condition.

To discuss all of these themes including why it could be the UK’s next health crisis, join out expert panel hosted by The Independent's Health Correspondent Rebecca Thomas and Science Correspondent Samuel Lovett, with Dr Elaine Maxwell, Professor Amitava Banerjee and Professor Brendan Delaney.

This event will be shaped by not only the ever changing news cycle but by you, the audience, so feel free to submit your questions ahead of time. You’ll also be able to ask questions via a Q&A box during the event.

Our event will be hosted on Zoom on 9 March at 6.30pm GMT and will last one hour. It is free to attend and you need to sign up for a ticket.

To find out more and to sign up click here.

This event will be available to watch on demand afterwards for registered users.