The British Medical Association has said health bosses need to put a greater emphasis on treating and researching long Covid.
The healthcare union also said frontline health staff are at more risk of contracting Covid through their work.
And it says long Covid affecting those staff then adds to the pressures already being felt where there are staff shortages in the system.
Read more: Long Covid symptoms leave Co Down man with extreme fatigue and brain fog
The BMA is calling for greater research into long Covid, data collection, prevention in children, improved compensation for those unable to work due to the condition and better financial support too.
"The more prevalent long COVID becomes, the more of a risk it poses not only to the health of the Northern Ireland population, but also the ability of our health service to function properly, a service that is already under immense pressure," said Dr Tom Black from the BMA.
“Doctors and health service staff are at higher risk of getting COVID through the course of their work.
"This means needing to take sick leave to prevent the spread of infection and many developing the symptoms of long COVID.
"This exacerbates the current health service workforce crisis as colleagues have to cover the resulting staffing gaps when delivering care to the most sick and vulnerable in society.”
Dr Black is calling on the Department of Health to take measures to ensure that those who are affected by the condition through their work, should not suffer financially or otherwise.
It also says more should be done to cut down on long waiting lists for those needing treatment for long Covid.
The BMA says some patients in Northern Ireland have waited 36 weeks for a first appointment and that of more than 1,900 people referred to the clinics in Northern Ireland, just over 600 had had an appointment by June 2022.
READ NEXT:
- Co Down dad with Long Covid having to adapt daily life due to lack of treatment
- Belfast woman feels like she has 'aged 15 years overnight' due to Long Covid
- East Belfast woman's life turned 'upside down' by Long Covid
- Belfast nurse says devastating impact of Long Covid means she may never work again
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here. To sign up to our FREE newsletters, see here.
