The Healthcare Experiences of People with Long COVID in the GTA - APR 2023

The Healthcare Experiences of People with Long COVID in the GTA APR 2023 Authors: Sarah Sanford Wellesley Institute Brenda Roche Wellesley Institute Acknowledgments: We are grateful to those who participated in the study and took the time to share their experiences and viewpoints on living with long COVID in the Greater Toronto Area. [...] Long COVID healthcare system response The challenges detailed in this report suggest that the healthcare system is falling short of addressing the needs of people with long COVID in the GTA. [...] Other research from Ontario shows that long COVID sufferers increased healthcare use after infection with COVID-19 which suggests that the healthcare system is not well positioned to respond to the needs of these patients.35 The same research indicates that family doctors in Ontario lack the capacity to deal with the number of long COVID patients Long COVID Healthcare 20 indicates that family doct. [...] Without representation of Black, Indigenous, and other racialized and low-income groups in research and intervention development, inequities in outcomes will persist.66,67 Long COVID Healthcare 22 The risk and effects of long COVID are inequitably distributed and influenced by the social determinants of health.68,69 In Toronto, racialized and low-income groups have faced inequities in rates and ou. [...] The experience of long COVID and barriers to healthcare, combined with related difficulties accessing support for work, income, and other supports has the potential to substantially exacerbate the existing inequities that have played out since the beginning of the pandemic.