I wept..

[LittleAndOften]

I wept this evening for the first time during this whole saga. It hit me hard.The shocking change in PHE guidance to work with inadequate protection.The NHS staff who are being forced into an impossible position. To risk their lives for lack of PPE or leave their patients untreated. And it's not only this but having to live with the consequences of these decisions afterwards. Then there are the carers being given little or no protection at all. Like lambs to the slaughter. I feel sick to my stomach.

Up until now I've been taking each day as it comes. Avoiding the news and keeping positive. But my husband is an HCP and may well find himself in this position soon. A paramedic we know is in ICU on a ventilator. Same age as DH.

I am so scared and overwhelmed by sadness. It's too awful. How many more of our HCPs and carers are going to die for lack of equipment?

I don't know what to say but just wanted to send you a hug.

I am awake at this time as I cannot eat or sleep with worry. My eldest daughter was in her final year of a nursing degree. She has deferred the final part of her degree to go in to the hospital at Band 4. She is trained in paediatrics to is being placed on the children's ward.

She is also moving out to stay in an Airbnb which is advised and her accommodation will be free of charge, given to NHS staff during this time. I have COPD and also asthmatic so in the high risk bracket.

I begged her not to do this and to continue with her studies, but she is adamant she wants to do this. I have had to stop watching the news as it is heart breaking the number of doctors and nurses that are dying of this virus.

The PPE is not adequate and insufficient testing. I have never been so stressed.

Sorry you had such a bad day and for your friend. I hope he recovers soon

@Lou670 oh that's really rough. This is my fear too, that health workers' sense of duty will override their safety. I really hope you both come through this OK

Its beyond awful, I am so angry too at the choice between safety and dedication of all the frontline workers. I was determined after watching these reports to try and help so joined a group to make scrubs for local hospitals etc.
If you can sew please look at your local volunteer groups that organise this and put your skills to use, better than clapping in lots of ways.
I was also so pleased that Turkey has sent 84 tonnes of ppe to the UK. I for one will make that a vacation destination when this tragic pandemic is finally over. Please stay safe frontline workers we are all enraged you have to go through this