Oxford councillor Shaista Aziz says she was initially told her long Covid symptoms were hayfever.
Concerns have been raised that people from ethnic minorities are not seeking help with long Covid due to fears they may not be believed.
Oxford city councillor Shaista Aziz said she was initially told her long Covid symptoms were hayfever. Dr Tanvi Rai, from Oxford University, said she believed fears were "based on historical experiences".Oxford's long Covid clinic has seen mostly white patients and the team is investigating why it is not seeing more people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.
Ms Aziz, who contracted Covid in February 2020, said she was only seen at the clinic after 18 months of symptoms, including fatigue, insomnia and sight problems."I had to give up my full-time job," she said, adding: "I couldn't do my work in the way that I wanted to do it because I was so exhausted.She added she felt as though her symptoms were not at first believed."When you live that reality as a minoritised woman, you are basically told to get on with things.