Fiona Christophers
@fionachris.bsky.social
Nature-loving city dweller. Sewing enthusiast and crafter. Life on pause due to Long Covid Oct 2020. #FBLC #longcovid #me/cfs
Reposted by Fiona Christophers
I wish I was surprised. Buried in this Budget is a plan to slash the Digital Services Tax, giving a multi-billion tax cut to US tech giants and the likes of Elon Musk.
That's right, cutting taxes for the world's richest man while hiking them for millions of hard-working Brits.
That's right, cutting taxes for the world's richest man while hiking them for millions of hard-working Brits.
November 27, 2025 at 9:30 AM
I wish I was surprised. Buried in this Budget is a plan to slash the Digital Services Tax, giving a multi-billion tax cut to US tech giants and the likes of Elon Musk.
That's right, cutting taxes for the world's richest man while hiking them for millions of hard-working Brits.
That's right, cutting taxes for the world's richest man while hiking them for millions of hard-working Brits.
Reposted by Fiona Christophers
Rachel Reeves says there’s a “hole” in the public finances.
A new decade-long Brexit study explains it:
a 6–8% hit to GDP – that's £180bn-£240bn a year – means less tax, less investment and less money for everything else.
Brexit made Britain poorer. Much poorer.
A new decade-long Brexit study explains it:
a 6–8% hit to GDP – that's £180bn-£240bn a year – means less tax, less investment and less money for everything else.
Brexit made Britain poorer. Much poorer.
New: Boris Johnson’s ‘Brexit Titanic success’ was half right
Nearly ten years on, the first full assessment of Brexit confirms what millions warned: Britain made itself poorer
eastangliabylines.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Rachel Reeves says there’s a “hole” in the public finances.
A new decade-long Brexit study explains it:
a 6–8% hit to GDP – that's £180bn-£240bn a year – means less tax, less investment and less money for everything else.
Brexit made Britain poorer. Much poorer.
A new decade-long Brexit study explains it:
a 6–8% hit to GDP – that's £180bn-£240bn a year – means less tax, less investment and less money for everything else.
Brexit made Britain poorer. Much poorer.
Reposted by Fiona Christophers
You don't need to have a diagnosis - if you live with ME, or you live with long Covid and experience ME symptoms, we would like to hear from you.
🔗Take part here: www.actionforme.org.uk/research-cam...
Thank you🧡
🔗Take part here: www.actionforme.org.uk/research-cam...
Thank you🧡
2025 Big Survey
Find out how you can contribute to our 2025 Big Survey - a vital research project aiming to illustrate the impact of ME and long Covid.
www.actionforme.org.uk
November 13, 2025 at 9:38 AM
You don't need to have a diagnosis - if you live with ME, or you live with long Covid and experience ME symptoms, we would like to hear from you.
🔗Take part here: www.actionforme.org.uk/research-cam...
Thank you🧡
🔗Take part here: www.actionforme.org.uk/research-cam...
Thank you🧡
Reposted by Fiona Christophers
🔍There's still time to take part in our Big Survey! 📊
This year we're aiming for our biggest response yet - so we'd love to hear from you if you've yet to take part. Your responses will shape our work going forwards, contribute to ME research and shine a light on the impact of ME on your life.
This year we're aiming for our biggest response yet - so we'd love to hear from you if you've yet to take part. Your responses will shape our work going forwards, contribute to ME research and shine a light on the impact of ME on your life.
November 13, 2025 at 9:37 AM
🔍There's still time to take part in our Big Survey! 📊
This year we're aiming for our biggest response yet - so we'd love to hear from you if you've yet to take part. Your responses will shape our work going forwards, contribute to ME research and shine a light on the impact of ME on your life.
This year we're aiming for our biggest response yet - so we'd love to hear from you if you've yet to take part. Your responses will shape our work going forwards, contribute to ME research and shine a light on the impact of ME on your life.
Reposted by Fiona Christophers
England’s top medical unions warn it’s unacceptable that Long COVID still isn’t classed as an occupational disease.
Three years after official advice, frontline health workers are still waiting for recognition and financial support.
www.bma.org.uk/bma-media-ce...
Three years after official advice, frontline health workers are still waiting for recognition and financial support.
www.bma.org.uk/bma-media-ce...
‘Unconscionable’ that the Government has not recognised Long COVID as an occupational disease, warns BMA and RCN - BMA media centre - BMA
Press release from the BMA.
www.bma.org.uk
November 12, 2025 at 4:25 PM
England’s top medical unions warn it’s unacceptable that Long COVID still isn’t classed as an occupational disease.
Three years after official advice, frontline health workers are still waiting for recognition and financial support.
www.bma.org.uk/bma-media-ce...
Three years after official advice, frontline health workers are still waiting for recognition and financial support.
www.bma.org.uk/bma-media-ce...
Reposted by Fiona Christophers
'By comparing blood, immune-cell profiles, and gene activity in people with and without long COVID, researchers uncovered biological differences that map onto those harsher, longer lasting symptoms.'
www.earth.com/news/why-lon...
#WomensHealth #LongCovid
www.earth.com/news/why-lon...
#WomensHealth #LongCovid
November 12, 2025 at 8:18 AM
'By comparing blood, immune-cell profiles, and gene activity in people with and without long COVID, researchers uncovered biological differences that map onto those harsher, longer lasting symptoms.'
www.earth.com/news/why-lon...
#WomensHealth #LongCovid
www.earth.com/news/why-lon...
#WomensHealth #LongCovid
Reposted by Fiona Christophers
‘If you’re disabled, you’re not ill.’
Sir Charlie Mayfield (author of the Keep Britain Working review)
This is who’s shaping UK disability employment policy. Shocking, he doesn’t even understand the basics.
I’m disabled because I’m chronically ill with #MECFS.
Sir Charlie Mayfield (author of the Keep Britain Working review)
This is who’s shaping UK disability employment policy. Shocking, he doesn’t even understand the basics.
I’m disabled because I’m chronically ill with #MECFS.
November 6, 2025 at 9:35 AM
‘If you’re disabled, you’re not ill.’
Sir Charlie Mayfield (author of the Keep Britain Working review)
This is who’s shaping UK disability employment policy. Shocking, he doesn’t even understand the basics.
I’m disabled because I’m chronically ill with #MECFS.
Sir Charlie Mayfield (author of the Keep Britain Working review)
This is who’s shaping UK disability employment policy. Shocking, he doesn’t even understand the basics.
I’m disabled because I’m chronically ill with #MECFS.
Reposted by Fiona Christophers
Newly published study offers hope to both males and females with #LongCovid - but in different ways 👇
It also explains why I don't have 'brain fog', but why my life is now like running a marathon on a flat battery.
Very useful.
www.cell.com/cell-reports...
#PostExertionalMalaise
It also explains why I don't have 'brain fog', but why my life is now like running a marathon on a flat battery.
Very useful.
www.cell.com/cell-reports...
#PostExertionalMalaise
Integrated immune, hormonal, and transcriptomic profiling reveals sex-specific dysregulation in long COVID patients with ME/CFS
Shahbaz et al. find that female long COVID patients with ME/CFS exhibit heightened
inflammation, altered hematopoiesis, disrupted hormone levels, and neuroinflammatory
gene signatures. In parallel, ou...
www.cell.com
November 8, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Newly published study offers hope to both males and females with #LongCovid - but in different ways 👇
It also explains why I don't have 'brain fog', but why my life is now like running a marathon on a flat battery.
Very useful.
www.cell.com/cell-reports...
#PostExertionalMalaise
It also explains why I don't have 'brain fog', but why my life is now like running a marathon on a flat battery.
Very useful.
www.cell.com/cell-reports...
#PostExertionalMalaise
Reposted by Fiona Christophers
The fact that 30% of our stock market is wrapped up in “help-kids-kill-themselves” technology seems to be an important datapoint in the evolution of late stage capitalism.
ChatGPT advised a suicidal young woman on how to take her own life, telling her "If you choose death, I'm with you - till the end, without judging."
I wanted ChatGPT to help me. So why did it advise me how to kill myself?
ChatGPT wrote a woman a suicide note and another AI chatbot role-played sexual acts with children, BBC finds.
www.bbc.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:20 AM
The fact that 30% of our stock market is wrapped up in “help-kids-kill-themselves” technology seems to be an important datapoint in the evolution of late stage capitalism.
Reposted by Fiona Christophers
Long Covid is now one of the biggest causes of long-term sickness in the UK.
Writing a workforce plan that never mentions it is like writing a flood report that never mentions rain.
It’s denial disguised as strategy.
🖇️
www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula...
Writing a workforce plan that never mentions it is like writing a flood report that never mentions rain.
It’s denial disguised as strategy.
🖇️
www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula...
Self-reported coronavirus (COVID-19) infections and associated symptoms, England and Scotland - Office for National Statistics
Analysis of Winter Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Study data: trends in self-reported symptoms of coronavirus, ongoing symptoms and associated risk factors.
www.ons.gov.uk
November 5, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Long Covid is now one of the biggest causes of long-term sickness in the UK.
Writing a workforce plan that never mentions it is like writing a flood report that never mentions rain.
It’s denial disguised as strategy.
🖇️
www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula...
Writing a workforce plan that never mentions it is like writing a flood report that never mentions rain.
It’s denial disguised as strategy.
🖇️
www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula...
Reposted by Fiona Christophers
9️⃣ When government reports skip Long Covid, policy blind spots multiply:
No tailored job protections
No pacing or energy-limiting work guidance
No infection control or clean air policies
No GP/employer training
It’s a cycle of neglect dressed up as reform.
#LongCovidCrisis
No tailored job protections
No pacing or energy-limiting work guidance
No infection control or clean air policies
No GP/employer training
It’s a cycle of neglect dressed up as reform.
#LongCovidCrisis
November 5, 2025 at 1:22 PM
9️⃣ When government reports skip Long Covid, policy blind spots multiply:
No tailored job protections
No pacing or energy-limiting work guidance
No infection control or clean air policies
No GP/employer training
It’s a cycle of neglect dressed up as reform.
#LongCovidCrisis
No tailored job protections
No pacing or energy-limiting work guidance
No infection control or clean air policies
No GP/employer training
It’s a cycle of neglect dressed up as reform.
#LongCovidCrisis
Reposted by Fiona Christophers
7️⃣ The Keep Britain Working report calls for “better data.”
But we already have data.
ONS, the Lancet, and UKHSA all show Long Covid’s ongoing impact on work, healthcare, & the economy.
This silence isn’t evidence-based - it’s political.
🔗 ifs.org.uk/publications...
But we already have data.
ONS, the Lancet, and UKHSA all show Long Covid’s ongoing impact on work, healthcare, & the economy.
This silence isn’t evidence-based - it’s political.
🔗 ifs.org.uk/publications...
Long COVID and the labour market | Institute for Fiscal Studies
We assess long COVID's impact has on labour market outcomes including hours, earnings and employment.
ifs.org.uk
November 5, 2025 at 1:22 PM
7️⃣ The Keep Britain Working report calls for “better data.”
But we already have data.
ONS, the Lancet, and UKHSA all show Long Covid’s ongoing impact on work, healthcare, & the economy.
This silence isn’t evidence-based - it’s political.
🔗 ifs.org.uk/publications...
But we already have data.
ONS, the Lancet, and UKHSA all show Long Covid’s ongoing impact on work, healthcare, & the economy.
This silence isn’t evidence-based - it’s political.
🔗 ifs.org.uk/publications...
Reposted by Fiona Christophers
5️⃣ 🧠 Long Covid isn’t a typical chronic condition. It’s multi-systemic, fluctuating & unpredictable.
People relapse with overexertion.
Old “return to work” models don’t fit & pretending they do pushes people toward permanent disability.
www.nature.com/nature-index...
People relapse with overexertion.
Old “return to work” models don’t fit & pretending they do pushes people toward permanent disability.
www.nature.com/nature-index...
The risk of Long Covid symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled studies | Articles | Nature Index
The Nature Index tracks the affiliations of high-quality scientific articles. Updated monthly, the Nature Index presents research outputs by institution and country. Use the Nature Index to interrogat...
www.nature.com
November 5, 2025 at 1:22 PM
5️⃣ 🧠 Long Covid isn’t a typical chronic condition. It’s multi-systemic, fluctuating & unpredictable.
People relapse with overexertion.
Old “return to work” models don’t fit & pretending they do pushes people toward permanent disability.
www.nature.com/nature-index...
People relapse with overexertion.
Old “return to work” models don’t fit & pretending they do pushes people toward permanent disability.
www.nature.com/nature-index...
Reposted by Fiona Christophers
4️⃣ Gov & media keep calling this a “sickness crisis” or “productivity puzzle.”
But it’s not a mystery:
Millions are ill because of a poorly managed infectious disease that hasn’t gone away.
#LongCovid is a mass disabling event still unfolding.
🔗 www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
But it’s not a mystery:
Millions are ill because of a poorly managed infectious disease that hasn’t gone away.
#LongCovid is a mass disabling event still unfolding.
🔗 www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Long COVID: a clinical update
Post-COVID-19 condition (also known as long COVID) is generally defined as symptoms
persisting for 3 months or more after acute COVID-19. Long COVID can affect multiple
organ systems and lead to sever...
www.thelancet.com
November 5, 2025 at 1:22 PM
4️⃣ Gov & media keep calling this a “sickness crisis” or “productivity puzzle.”
But it’s not a mystery:
Millions are ill because of a poorly managed infectious disease that hasn’t gone away.
#LongCovid is a mass disabling event still unfolding.
🔗 www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
But it’s not a mystery:
Millions are ill because of a poorly managed infectious disease that hasn’t gone away.
#LongCovid is a mass disabling event still unfolding.
🔗 www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Reposted by Fiona Christophers
3️⃣ 📊 ONS data: working-age people reporting Long Covid were 45.5% more likely to be economically inactive 30–39 weeks after infection, and 34.3% more likely at 40–51 weeks.
That’s a structural labour market shock. Ignoring it = policy blindness.
www.ons.gov.uk/releases/sel...
That’s a structural labour market shock. Ignoring it = policy blindness.
www.ons.gov.uk/releases/sel...
Self-reported long COVID and labour market outcomes, UK: 2022
- Office for National Statistics
www.ons.gov.uk
November 5, 2025 at 1:22 PM
3️⃣ 📊 ONS data: working-age people reporting Long Covid were 45.5% more likely to be economically inactive 30–39 weeks after infection, and 34.3% more likely at 40–51 weeks.
That’s a structural labour market shock. Ignoring it = policy blindness.
www.ons.gov.uk/releases/sel...
That’s a structural labour market shock. Ignoring it = policy blindness.
www.ons.gov.uk/releases/sel...
Reposted by Fiona Christophers
2️⃣ The report says:
> “There are 800,000 more people out of work due to ill health than before 2019.”
Yet it never asks what happened in 2019–2020 to cause that shift.
You can’t fix a workforce crisis while pretending the pandemic didn’t happen.
#KeepBritainWorking
> “There are 800,000 more people out of work due to ill health than before 2019.”
Yet it never asks what happened in 2019–2020 to cause that shift.
You can’t fix a workforce crisis while pretending the pandemic didn’t happen.
#KeepBritainWorking
November 5, 2025 at 1:22 PM
2️⃣ The report says:
> “There are 800,000 more people out of work due to ill health than before 2019.”
Yet it never asks what happened in 2019–2020 to cause that shift.
You can’t fix a workforce crisis while pretending the pandemic didn’t happen.
#KeepBritainWorking
> “There are 800,000 more people out of work due to ill health than before 2019.”
Yet it never asks what happened in 2019–2020 to cause that shift.
You can’t fix a workforce crisis while pretending the pandemic didn’t happen.
#KeepBritainWorking
Reposted by Fiona Christophers
1️⃣ 🧵 NEW: The government’s Keep Britain Working report claims to tackle the UK’s crisis of ill health & economic inactivity.
But it never mentions Long Covid.
Not once.
Not the pandemic either.
That’s not a small oversight — it’s a fundamental flaw. Let’s unpack why 👇
🔗 www.gov.uk/government/p...
But it never mentions Long Covid.
Not once.
Not the pandemic either.
That’s not a small oversight — it’s a fundamental flaw. Let’s unpack why 👇
🔗 www.gov.uk/government/p...
Keep Britain Working Review: Final report
Keep Britain Working is an independent review of the role of employers in tackling health based economic inactivity and promoting healthy and inclusive workplaces.
www.gov.uk
November 5, 2025 at 1:22 PM
1️⃣ 🧵 NEW: The government’s Keep Britain Working report claims to tackle the UK’s crisis of ill health & economic inactivity.
But it never mentions Long Covid.
Not once.
Not the pandemic either.
That’s not a small oversight — it’s a fundamental flaw. Let’s unpack why 👇
🔗 www.gov.uk/government/p...
But it never mentions Long Covid.
Not once.
Not the pandemic either.
That’s not a small oversight — it’s a fundamental flaw. Let’s unpack why 👇
🔗 www.gov.uk/government/p...
Reposted by Fiona Christophers
A haunted house but it’s losing your health, career, marriage, ability to leave the house to an incurable disease people refuse to believe in, & all the normal things you’d do to grieve like cry, exercise, socialize, make art, make your disease a thousand times worse so you just have to lie there
October 31, 2025 at 6:53 PM
A haunted house but it’s losing your health, career, marriage, ability to leave the house to an incurable disease people refuse to believe in, & all the normal things you’d do to grieve like cry, exercise, socialize, make art, make your disease a thousand times worse so you just have to lie there
Reposted by Fiona Christophers
#MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #ChronicFatigueSyndrome #MEcfs #CFS #PwME
Via Lu Baker Art instagram.com/lubakerart
Via Lu Baker Art instagram.com/lubakerart
October 30, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Reposted by Fiona Christophers
This is not talked about enough. 🚨
We have missed the 1.5C target and devastating consequences are now inevitable.
Meanwhile, populists are spreading misinformation about climate change.
We need to work together. Now. 🌏
https://bit.ly/47I9Pf0
We have missed the 1.5C target and devastating consequences are now inevitable.
Meanwhile, populists are spreading misinformation about climate change.
We need to work together. Now. 🌏
https://bit.ly/47I9Pf0
‘Change course now’: humanity has missed 1.5C climate target, says UN head
Exclusive: ‘Devastating consequences’ now inevitable but emissions cuts still vital, says António Guterres in sole interview before Cop30
www.theguardian.com
October 28, 2025 at 5:04 PM
This is not talked about enough. 🚨
We have missed the 1.5C target and devastating consequences are now inevitable.
Meanwhile, populists are spreading misinformation about climate change.
We need to work together. Now. 🌏
https://bit.ly/47I9Pf0
We have missed the 1.5C target and devastating consequences are now inevitable.
Meanwhile, populists are spreading misinformation about climate change.
We need to work together. Now. 🌏
https://bit.ly/47I9Pf0
Reposted by Fiona Christophers
This charity has put out info to warn those w a history of cancer to take precautions against covid as it can reactivate cancers v quickly it seems
Obviously other viruses can also increase cancer risks but perhaps not so quickly?
Eg EBV
As ever more research needed
buds.org.uk/covid-and-ca...
Obviously other viruses can also increase cancer risks but perhaps not so quickly?
Eg EBV
As ever more research needed
buds.org.uk/covid-and-ca...
Covid & Cancer
There is now compelling medical evidence that Covid-19 infections can reactivate dormant cancer cells, and trigger the growth of secondary cancers.
buds.org.uk
October 25, 2025 at 1:12 PM
This charity has put out info to warn those w a history of cancer to take precautions against covid as it can reactivate cancers v quickly it seems
Obviously other viruses can also increase cancer risks but perhaps not so quickly?
Eg EBV
As ever more research needed
buds.org.uk/covid-and-ca...
Obviously other viruses can also increase cancer risks but perhaps not so quickly?
Eg EBV
As ever more research needed
buds.org.uk/covid-and-ca...
Reposted by Fiona Christophers
Dr Clare Gerada has been appointed a crossbench peer in the House of Lords and is now a baroness — I’ve put together a short thread about her involvement in #MECFS.
twitter-thread.com/t/1981309222...
twitter-thread.com/t/1981309222...
🧵Dr Clare Gerada has been appointed a crossbench peer in the House of Lords and is now a Baroness. She is married to psychiatrist Sir Simon Wessely, the main architect of the now-discredited psycholog...
🧵Dr Clare Gerada has been appointed a crossbench peer in the House of Lords and is now a Baroness. She is married to psychiatrist Sir Simon Wessely, the main architect of the now-discredited psycholog...
twitter-thread.com
October 23, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Dr Clare Gerada has been appointed a crossbench peer in the House of Lords and is now a baroness — I’ve put together a short thread about her involvement in #MECFS.
twitter-thread.com/t/1981309222...
twitter-thread.com/t/1981309222...
Reposted by Fiona Christophers
Christmas is coming! Support the MEA and buy our 2025 charity cards - UK Delivery Only
£4.50 - Cards come in packs of 10.
Buy here: https://meassociation.org.uk/product-category/christmas/
#MECFS #LongCovid #CharityCards #Christmas #Christmas2025
£4.50 - Cards come in packs of 10.
Buy here: https://meassociation.org.uk/product-category/christmas/
#MECFS #LongCovid #CharityCards #Christmas #Christmas2025
October 21, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Christmas is coming! Support the MEA and buy our 2025 charity cards - UK Delivery Only
£4.50 - Cards come in packs of 10.
Buy here: https://meassociation.org.uk/product-category/christmas/
#MECFS #LongCovid #CharityCards #Christmas #Christmas2025
£4.50 - Cards come in packs of 10.
Buy here: https://meassociation.org.uk/product-category/christmas/
#MECFS #LongCovid #CharityCards #Christmas #Christmas2025
Reposted by Fiona Christophers
Sometimes the obvious has to be said, but: one of the reasons why chronic illnesses like Long Covid are so ruinous is precisely because medicine denies and dismisses them.
Illness is terrible in itself. Illness with zero meaningful support is just cruelty and ruin.
Illness is terrible in itself. Illness with zero meaningful support is just cruelty and ruin.
Long Covid Is Real — And It’s Changing an Entire Generation
Hundreds of thousands of kids in America are struggling with an illness that many doctors and schools refuse to recognize.e
Feature: www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
Hundreds of thousands of kids in America are struggling with an illness that many doctors and schools refuse to recognize.e
Feature: www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
October 16, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Sometimes the obvious has to be said, but: one of the reasons why chronic illnesses like Long Covid are so ruinous is precisely because medicine denies and dismisses them.
Illness is terrible in itself. Illness with zero meaningful support is just cruelty and ruin.
Illness is terrible in itself. Illness with zero meaningful support is just cruelty and ruin.
Reposted by Fiona Christophers
I am once again begging you to boycott Tesla
Musk is funding the legal battle of UK Far Right activist Tommy Robinson - real name Stephen Yaxley Lennon - as he faces charges brought by counterterrorism police.
Tommy Robinson claims Elon Musk is funding his legal battle — The Times and The Sunday Times
Tommy Robinson has claimed Elon Musk was paying his legal costs as he went on trial for refusing to comply with a request made by counterterrorism police as he tried to leave Britain last year. Robins...
apple.news
October 14, 2025 at 10:02 AM
I am once again begging you to boycott Tesla