The loss of NHS staff

[Londongirl88888]

Three nurses have died since Thursday and now a midwife. It really brings it home. It proves that this virus isn't mild at all. It's killing "healthy" NHS staff. They don't have the right protection and it has been said many times there's no masks, gloves etc. They surely need to be fully covered. Why should these poor NHS workers end up dying like this due to the lack of PPE? Most of these NHS workers have children.

If it can kill them, then it can kill us. It was easy to believe a few weeks ago that this was killing old people and poorly. But it's killing 30 year olds and 50 year olds.

It's absolutely terrifying to think when the restrictions lift we will all be mixing again and they expect most of us to catch this. To risk our lives. We are mostly parents on here. I can't help but worry about this. Even Boris is poorly enough to need help. This virus isn't mild is it? It's actually bad even in mild cases?

Totally agree. I think there is another Nurse in Liverpool who has died also. I have signed up to go back on the Nursing register but to be honest this is really scaring me now.

@Babyroobs
Such a brave thing to do. I know many thousands are ok but even 1 is such a tragic waste.

One of the nurses was late 30s I read with three children. It's just so sad.

I know it's irrational but the thought of catching this is really scaring me. I can't bare the thought of leaving my young kids behind. I feel like Boris Johnson is extremely poorly and that shows you have a high chance of getting bad symptoms.

Even if death doesn't happen the thought of burning up and struggling to breathe when my kids need me just scares me. I really don't want to catch this.

My heart breaks for the families of these wonderful NHS workers. They had so much life left to live.

I think that I heard 50 medical workers in Italy have died? Weren't you expecting some of these? It's terrible. I'm gutted. But there were threads on MN last week with petitions that the father should be allowed to all scans and the birth. Because bonding was important. A midwife has died. To the posters who signed that petition which one is it?? Respect the lives of people caring for us, or not?

There has been a lot of 'othering' of the risk - it only happens to other people; the over 70s, those with underlying issues. And that it's mild for everyone else - meaning 'people like me'

And although that's true, it's not the whole truth. Anyone can get it (though deaths in children are very rare), previously healthy young people die. Those who don't die can be horribly and scarily ill for weeks. Some may have permanent damage.

People posting about this are all too often drowned out, or shouted at for feeding anxiety and being 'unhelpful'. But it's also not helpful to gloss over the fact that lower risk does not mean no risk.

And yes, we all need to pull together and do our bit (even if the only bit you can do is to stay indoors). So that fewer people, regardless of their age, die

I agree, I’m a midwife and it really hit home when the death of poor Lynsay Coventry was announced, I cried and cried. I can’t begin to imagine how her colleagues must be feeling

I don't know whether it is only classed as severe when you need to be hospitalised but there are many people at home who are very ill with CV. If you look at the burning lungs thread you will realise how bad you have to be to be hospitalised and what a truly horrific illness CV is.

People are phoning 111 only to find that if they can manage to say half a sentence then they aren't poorly enough to be hospitalised. You have to be gasping for air to warrant an admission.

It's just starting to hit me that this is much worse than they wanted us to think. They were going to go with herd immunity! Even if that meant 2000 UK children lost a mum, it's 2000 too many.

The midwife got to me too. Midwives bring so much comfort and reassurance to women. They are calm and someone to open up too. They help bring new life into the world. They work in the beginning of life. The happiest time for families. It's definitely sad to think about such a loss.

This is also going to terrify the other NHS workers further. How can they do a good job when they are frightened. They won't be sleeping well. They won't be eating enough. Everyday must feel so difficult.

I have not read burning lungs. I just feel so scared for everyone. I dont see how we can get life moving again without a vaccination. This is to slow the spread that is all..how many "healthy people" in lockdown will react badly to this virus when we are allowed to catch it because the NHS can help us? Also how do we care for our children if we get bad? I fear that many will die missing the help they needed. So many are at home not being tested or helped. Every day the situation is getting worse to see. It's definitely not what the government want us to believe. Boris is supposed to have it mild. Yet he's clearly struggling. He needs the help and he's doing a great job. But he's lucky enough to have drs looking out for him. Yet NHS workers and parents and the majority of us for that matter will be expected to cope alone.

I don't want to look like I'm spreading fear. But this week it's getting more and more clear this virus is a gamble for everyone despite age. Young healthy people dying from it is becoming more common.

I wish they would publish some meaningful stats. We don't know anywhere near enough about this virus. The age percentages.

Did the NHS workers have asthma, diebetes etc? If so why were they not sent home to isolate?

Do they actually have evidence of mild cases? Because I'm not going to believe the lady choking into her elbow on an interview and swearing is mild.

Why didn't prince Charles tell us his experience? It's ok people saying they had a mild cough and a fever. But how poorly did they feel?

I hope their families sue the NHS over the lack of protective equipment.

It's 80 doctors in Italy that have died, not 50

news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-italys-doctors-and-nurses-are-in-trauma-over-deaths-of-more-than-100-colleagues-11968928

My understanding is that NHS and other key workers in the “vulnerable” category are still expected at work.

why do you say boris is doing a great job?

you cant see any connection between many doctors, nurses and midwives dying because of a lack of protective equipment treating patients and the govt?

The lack of PPE for NHS staff is criminal. But even in China where drs and nurses looked to be well protected they caught it and died. Viral load seems to be why- too much exposure and performing intubation may be particularly dangerous. I think there are massive questions around the risks of treating cv.

I live in the town where the midwife has died, it’s scary. I said to DP last night this is when things are going to get terrifying, when it’s that close to the home, surely all staff in that hospital will now be terrified and it’s going to start effecting their mental health of nothing else, I’ve seen nothing in the news about provisions to help the mental being of health workers, the amount of videos I’ve seen posted on social media of nurses/shop workers in absolute tears because of what they’re going through. It really is horrendous

Do we know whether these NHS workers contracted the disease at work?

People from all walks of life and all professions will contract this virus. They might not contract it at work through lack of PPE.

I’m interested in how the media spin things, that’s all.

my local hospital has nurses in icu, ppe masks now provided by local schools with 3d printers, and a 1/4 staff off with virus-symptoms (no one knows because theres no testing for them)

still its more likely they got the virus on their walk rather than a patient coughing in their face.

@Daffodil101

Really??

I'd grab a coffee if I were you, as you don't seem to be awake yet.

I'm a nurse and I can verify there IS A LACK OF PPE and TESTS

just in case you thought that was just the media making things up

Leafy, it may surprise you to learn that I’m also nhs and my husband is an ITU consultant.

There is a lack of PPE.

Did the nhs in question contract the disease at work due to lack of PPE?

Or are they part of the general population who may have contracted it elsewhere?

Entirely reasonable question.

Its terrifying for medical professionals. I feel for them all so much goung in to treat people in these high risk situations. The lack of PPE is a disgrace. I also feel for the london transport workers that have been lost - 5 so far. They are in contact with so many people.

@leafygarden It is a point though. A colleague has tested positive for covid but none of the rest of us are showing any symptoms. He hasn't been in a patient-facing role for three weeks but will count as a positive NHS staff test. There definitely is lack of PPE and tests and we'll never know who contracted it at work/Tesco, although work is obviously higher risk.

@Londongirl88888 I'm an NHS worker but don't have kids. Is it less sad if I die?

@Daffodil101 oh come on, have a think about what you’ve written there.

Of course we don’t know for sure where HCPs are contracting CV but given that they’re spending 10+ hours a day up close and personal with patients, with inadequate or no PPE I’d hazard a guess they’re not catching it whilst out on a walk in the fresh air 2 metres apart from anyone else.

It’s pretty hard to social distance whilst you’re suctioning someone on a ventilator, or washing the sputum off the face of someone with a respiratory infection...

It might be inevitable that we lose health care professionals to Covid but it doesn’t make it any less of a tragedy. What makes it more tragic is that they’re working in hazardous conditions without adequate PPE.

I work in primary care and we were rationing our surgical face masks (not even FFP3 masks) until a patient donated half a dozen boxes he had in his garage from his work as a health and safety consultant. We are still waiting for full gowns rather than aprons, and FFP3 masks. We recently received 2 visors. Not two boxes - two visors.

It’s terrifying for those of us that have loved ones working in the NHS. Dh went to work at 7.30 am yesterday and came home at midnight 🙁 He’s already gone back to work. Oh and it’s his birthday today.
And yes lots of NHS staff have conditions that make them more vulnerable, they are still at work.
I’m so anxious about Dh. He is very calm but that’s how he always is!

I am so offended by these threads where people only seem to care now that you understand that yes, it could happen to you too. The 'old and poorly' have the right to live too. Many, many 'poorly' people have young children too - not that it would mean that they were expendable if they didn't.

1 social worker and 2 prison officers have died too. Tragic.

I’m front line nhs in the community and it is scary but I am trying to keep things in perspective. The doctors and nurses who have died were likely highly stressed, knackered and probably not eating properly which would be no help to their immune system. Being over worked is the criminal thing here

We have no ffp3 masks, and no gowns, only flimsy aprons and the surgical masks. No mask fit testing as yet. It was only the back end of last week staff were asked if they had any pre-existing medical conditions, and they would be required to fill in a risk assessment form, which I will need to do when I'm in work tomorrow. A paper exercise, which won't make any difference. I have 2 small children, and I'm seriously considering whether it's worth risking my life for £14 and hour.