Cleveleys teacher struck down with neurological condition after Long Covid backs urgent campaign

Dave Culpan, 51, started to suffer from Long Covid two years ago before developing a shuffling gait and tremor in his right hand.

Fearing it was Parkinson's or Huntington's, David says he was “very fortunate” to be able to pay for a private consultation, but fears that people less fortunate can often wait two years even for an initial consultation.

Currently signed off work as an assistant head teacher and unlikely to return to work due to his condition, Dave is awaiting an official diagnosis of functional neurological disorder (FND).

With his condition worsening as he waits for official diagnosis and therapy, he is backing calls by charity the Neurological Alliance for the Government to set up Neuro Taskforce.

Dave said: “The condition usually comes from acute childhood trauma or a significant life event but mine was due to being a workaholic, I used to work 70-to-80-hour weeks.

"COVID just triggered the FND in me.

“The strange thing about FND is that it's not a hardware fault – it’s software.

"There's nothing physically wrong with my nervous system or brain, but it’s as though my software has become corrupted. I need to learn to reprogramme myself.”

Dave has “good days and bad days”. On the bad days, which tend to happen twice a week, Dave struggles to speak and complete daily tasks such as making a cup of tea or a sandwich.

Even on good days when Dave can spend time on his vegetable plot or walking to the local shop, he still experiences tremors, a stammer and chronic fatigue.

His wife, Amanda, is only able to care for him in the very early mornings, evenings and weekends due to her full-time job.

The assistant head teacher is supporting The Neurological Alliance campaign to bring about much needed change for people affected by neurological conditions.

As Dave’s condition is intermittent, he does not qualify for additional support.

He is currently on the two-year long waiting list for neurorehabilitation, neuropsychology and speech and language therapy. However, the longer he waits, the harder recovery will be.

The Neurological Alliance handed over a 19,000-strong petition to the Department of Health and Social Care on Monday, June 5. It called on the Government to back the one in six people affected by neurological conditions in the UK and calls for a UK-wide Neuro Taskforce to spearhead vital improvements in care and support.

Georgina Carr, Chief Executive of The Neurological Alliance, said: “Despite affecting millions of people and costing billions of pounds, neurological conditions are too often at the back of the queue.

"More than half of people who shared their experiences had experienced delays to routine specialist appointments in the last year - this must change.”

Dave’s case has some similarities with that of another Fylde coast teacher, Neal Sandwell, who had to retire from job because Long Covid left him in wheelchair and brain-injured

If you need support, Neurological Alliance members may be able to help. Visit www.neural.org.uk to find out more.