On Tuesday 11 November 2025, a prominent advocacy group called Long Covid Advocacy released an open letter addressed to Green Party Deputy Leader Zack Polanski. In the letter, the group congratulates Polanski for his leadership and urges for bold, systemic reform in how the UK approaches post-viral illness, specifically Long Covid and ME.
Long Covid Advocacy is a group that advocates for justice, research, and patient-led reform in the field of post-viral illness. In their letter, they draw strong parallels between the denial surrounding the climate emergency and the neglect of infection-associated chronic illness. The group emphasizes the need for courage, honesty, and reform “from the ground up” in both of these issues.
The group also highlights the interconnectedness between climate breakdown and the risk of new pandemics. They state that ecological disruption and warming can contribute to the spread of infectious diseases. Therefore, they urge for political courage in building resilient, evidence-based public health systems to address both of these issues.
According to the group, people with infection-associated chronic illness in the UK, including Long Covid and ME, still face deep inequality in treatment and care. They point out that services are fragmented, disbelief is widespread, and patients often have to navigate complex conditions without proper medical support.
The letter acknowledges the Green Party’s pioneering policy on Covid and Long Covid, which was developed through the Greens Against Covid group. However, the group urges the party to take further action by championing the following initiatives:
1. Co-produced, trauma-informed NHS care for severe ME and Long Covid.
2. Quality, evidence-based medical education and clinical practice.
3. Biomedical research and RECOVERY-style trials developed in partnership with patients.
4. Centres of excellence that integrate care, research, and community knowledge.
5. Public health leadership that connects clean air, infection control, vaccination, and equitable access to care.
As the COP30 unfolds, Long Covid Advocacy states that this moment demands political courage to speak up where others remain silent and to act on truths that may be “politically inconvenient but morally urgent.”
The group concludes the letter by expressing their desire to restore hope for those still suffering from post-viral illness, for those who have been left behind, and for a health system that listens, learns, and acts with integrity.
