Hospital staff, tell us the reality

[Ihateme]

I’m am so fed up of seeing people comment on here that schools should be going back, that people should not be reporting mass gatherings in tier 4, how dare people begrudge a child their birthday party etc...

The hospitals are in a worse state now than they were during the first peak. Would any doctors or nurses care to confirm this? Maybe then these Mumsnetters will get the message.

@Funkypolar

Is it true that midwives are being redeployed to Covid wards and that maternity wards are being turned into Covid wards? I’m sure the NHS would shut maternity if they could.

Not in my area though a local birth centre closed in the first wave (primarily due to the impact of transfers to the obstetric unit which require a paramedic crew, a midwife and an ambulance). Many midwives are direct entry and not nurse trained.

Suggestions please....

@Cheeseboardandmincepies really? And how do you known that what you’re reading is correct? This heinous and dangerous stupidity is getting boring. The virus is real, hospitals are struggling, your flippancy is ugly at best.

My brother works in a busy high dependency unit in a major Birmingham hospital. He's worked for the NHS all his life and has been completely dedicated but at this moment he's telling me he wants to take early retirement or find a day job in elective surgery somewhere because he is close to breaking point. He has lost members of his team to covid, has nursed patients in their 80s with covid on trolleys in hospital corridors and has seen countless people die. When everyone was clapping for the NHS he was saying, "They have no idea" but now he tells me it is so much worse. I have far more reason to believe him than all the people who pretend it's 'just flu.'

Just wanted to stop by and say a HUGE thank you to all the nurses, doctors and medical staff for all you've done and keep doing.

I pray to god people stop behaving in a cavalier way and take this seriously so it can be over for all of us sooner rather than later. I realize it's hard to be isolated, hard for children to be out of school but short term it's needed.

I'm a single Mum with no support who worked full time in a busy demanding job from home while home schooling a child. School didn't provide any work so I had to build a schedule/lessons (including finding resources for these lessons) for my child every day on top of everything as losing structure would have been terrible. It nearly broke me but I did it, barely had more than 4 hours sleep a day and I'd do it again if it gets us through and saves lives.

Abijay1 thank you for your post and thank you for your work.

One of my lovely patients with downs syndrome was admitted to hospital today. To a hospital that declared a serious indecent/ red alert today. We have already been told he won't come out. Does he have any underlying conditions? Well he has downs syndrome, so just a bit more collateral damage to the covid deniers. Utter wankers. He has been living a fantastic life, dating, working, socialising prior to covid; and now lies dying probably wondering where his parents are and why they are not visiting.

I'm a NHS scientist in pathology. Our hospital looks empty as we no longer have as many people either patients or visitors physically attending wards or clinics or hospital visitors wandering around our corrifors. Appointments are still going ahead after a gp referral via zoom or telephone appointments and then subsequent hospital procedures and treatments are still going ahead. I know this for a FACT. Pathology specimens are near normal levels now. Our wards are full to bursting. Any procedures cancelled are due to lack of intensive care beds that are now full with Covid patients. All this speculation from people reading media or watching conspiracy theories on you tube. This is the TRUTH !!! Hospitals are not empty, they are just different !!!

@janetmendoza

One of my lovely patients with downs syndrome was admitted to hospital today. To a hospital that declared a serious indecent/ red alert today. We have already been told he won't come out. Does he have any underlying conditions? Well he has downs syndrome, so just a bit more collateral damage to the covid deniers. Utter wankers. He has been living a fantastic life, dating, working, socialising prior to covid; and now lies dying probably wondering where his parents are and why they are not visiting.

Fuck. I'm so, so sorry.

My sister works in ICU, she’s had enough, they’re cramming patients into theatres and they have 1 doctor on shift instead of 5 because they’re off sick with it, they should have 1 patient each and they have 3 or 4. She’s exhausted, working all hours and can’t believe we’ve not been locked down before now

Oh @janetmendoza, I could cry for that poor, poor man. And like you say, to the minimisers he doesn't mean anything. 😥

So can I ask, those who are working in these situations, what happens next? If cases keep rising or even stay static, hospitals won't cope will they? What will actually happen? I just can't see the way forward and hope there's a plan :(

In the first wave I was in a country were the health care wasn't able to deal. So it just... didn't. No ambulances were sent. You couldn't go into any hospitals. I work as a diplomat and we would call around other countries' diplomats to see if anyone knew anyone who had any kind of oxygen canister somehow to give to a national stranger in our jurisdiction who desperately needed oxygen. But mostly there was nothing. People had done a run on paracetamol to treat themselves at home. You couldn't get any, anywhere.

We sort of think there must be some way to keep going because health care staff ARE doing such insanely amazing things. But at some point it just... stops.

Thats just awful @janetmendoza I have a child with autism and severe learning disabilities but otherwise healthy , reading things like that is so upsetting .

Yes vivid wards might be overflowing. But what about the thousands of people with other diseases that are not getting treatment? Other wards are empty because operations and treatments are cancelled. Referrals are cancelled or massively delayed. What about those people?

My doctor friend in s. London is extremely evasive if I ask him what the reality is....he never answers a direct question and dodges it....he is at home doing an online course...!!

Our surge was 6 weeks ago- we hit 3x our first level. Staffing levels are terrible with very many sick - fit healthy staff off for weeks on end with covid. Our cases are just starting to surge again.....

My very, very pragmatic doctors friends (A&E, surgical) both tell me their ICU numbers have doubled in a week.....

@Celestine70

Yes vivid wards might be overflowing. But what about the thousands of people with other diseases that are not getting treatment? Other wards are empty because operations and treatments are cancelled. Referrals are cancelled or massively delayed. What about those people?

THOSE ARE THE VERY PEOPLE WHO ARE DYING FROM COVID!!!

YES I’M SHOUTING BUT OMG HOW MANY TIMES DOES IT HAVE TO BE EXPLAINED THAT COVID IS NOT A STAND ALONE DISEASE FFS.

My doctor friend in s. London is extremely evasive if I ask him what the reality is....he never answers a direct question and dodges it....he is at home doing an online course...!!

Maybe he is risk assessed to be too high risk for his normal clinical area / redeployment and doesn’t want to tell you the reasons for it? We have a number of people in similar situations who are doing non clinical work (which frees others up for patient facing jobs) from home. Lots of people don’t want to disclose their full medical history to friends / colleagues / family.

Alternatively, we’ve just done another round of ICU induction for non-critical care doctors (to teach them how to use infusion pumps, prescribe inotropes etc) which has all been done over Teams, so maybe he is doing that?

Equally, maybe he’s just a workshy lazy bastard getting rich off the covid gravy train? Who knows?

the health care wasn't able to deal. So it just... didn't. No ambulances were sent. You couldn't go into any hospitals
Is this where we're headed next?

I feel like shouting too Double and completely agree.

And it's also that we have to get this thing under control in order to get those people treated. If covid lets rip further what do you think will happen to those people @Celestine70? I'm one of them and very worried about being able to access hospital treatment this winter.

Doctors have to treat what's acute and in front of them. In a pandemic they have to treat to try and keep a lid on things so it doesn't go even further. Do you think all Covid patients should be sent home to die so we can resume normal service?

People keep going on about 'facts'. Where are you getting YOUR facts from exactly? The media?? PLEASE.Do you simply turn on the Beeb and take it all as gospel? I hope not.
I will say that I'm very confused by it all. Because I read/listen to everything I can, from as many media outlets as possible (in an attempt to be INFORMED). So l kind of envy those of you who clearly know what's going on without really thinking, and harshly judge those for suggesting things/having opinions other than your own.
But...having studied 'the 'news' as part of my degree and having worked as a journalist, I'll say this: DO NOT BE SO NAIVE AS TO THINK THE NEWS IS 'HONEST'. I could go on about that, but anyway...
My brother is coming to the end of having Covid (at least he tested positive for it just before Xmas, as has his wife; kids are fine)
He's 56, is mostly healthy; normally doesn't get colds, flu etc, but said it was like a bad flu for 10 days.
He doesn't understand why the world has been shut down for this. I'd argue to him that that not everyone might get off so lightly.
But actually it seems that most do...
So wtf is going on?
Why are so many more victim groups being created by the global shutdown to protect a tiny victim group?
Another brother of mine who's a nurse argues that it's mostly to protect the NHS from being overwhelmed.
So why oh why don't our governments pump the (seemingly printable, but let's not get into THAT) money INTO THE NHS and get back to some sort of normality??
And why are intelligent questions and alternative opinions to the mainstream news being censored?
Oh and did you know that viruses mutate? So, like flu, I imagine we'll have a few C-19 variants. We gonna hide forever? Or start pressuring governments to put money into nursing banks, field hospitals etc etc ? Cmon people!!! Stop watching the 'news'
and write to your MPs, councils, GPs etc. Get the NHS more financial support.
Oh and btw... not everyone on YouTube is a nutter, for all you judgers out there. Shane on you.
Yes there are many loonies out there. But not all. Use your intelligence. Do your own research. Many reputable medical folk whose opinion differs from our government advisors just can't get a platform on the mainstream news. Ask yourself why (and no.. I'll remind you..the answer is NOT because they're nutters).
Amen

@Yohoheaveho

the health care wasn't able to deal. So it just... didn't. No ambulances were sent. You couldn't go into any hospitals Is this where we're headed next?

No. We’re approaching peak. Hopefully it will lessen enough to give staff a breathing space before any third wave. There are still some reserve positions to use in extremis. At the moment there is serious logistical planning going on behind the scenes. Everyone who needs critical care bed is getting it. Most regions can find one or two intensive care beds still. There are still operating theatres in use for elective work that can accommodate patients, in the very short term. The staff can be deployed to manage ventilated patients reasonably well. There is no suggestion that there will be no ambulances or hospital spaces. There are ambulance delays. Handover delays. Staff shortages. Full emergency departments but......the NHS staff are doing an incredible job of caring for very sick patients. They are turning up for shift after shift when their personal gas tanks are virtually empty.

We should be very mindful of just how exceptional the NHS has been. Nobody has been turned away because they can’t pay. Clapping seems a bit patronising given what they are doing.

Equally, maybe he’s just a workshy lazy bastard getting rich off the covid gravy train? Who knows?’

I think he’s probably a fully paid up Bill Gates devotee who is staying at home writing fake death certificates.

@gingas

It isn't true that most get off lightly, though. I guess the majority do. But we've passed 70,000 deaths now. 981 today.

There's also the risk of ending up with long Covid, which I have. I've had it for over 9 months. The worst of the symptoms have gone, but I still get breathless regularly, have dizzy spells and have coughing fits. I'm also constantly exhausted.

I'm 51, overweight and already had CFS, so I wasn't without vulnerabilities. But a lot of sufferers had no reason to think it would happen to them, as they were previously young and fit.

Just because your DB had it mildly (lucky him) it doesn't follow that it isn't something to take seriously.