Forum Topic

NHS doctor dies from Covid-19 at West Mid

Presumably he was never tested for Covid-19 before he selflessly went to work in the West Midlands and perhaps the protective equipment he was given there was not up to the job. Or he caught the virus while travelling??His death is not just a tragedy for his family but for the NHS: he was the most highly trained specialist transplant surgeon. We should not expect them to go "into the trenches" like the cannon-fodder of WW1. Doctors and nurses MUST have the right protective equipment before going into hospitals with Intensive Care wards for any and all conditions, not just for Covid-19 and pneumonia. We must NOT loose them!

Una-Jane Winfield ● 2412d12 Comments

According to the chief medical officer of Scotland on Radio 4 this morning the test doesn't work unless the viral load is sufficient and that doesn't happen until symptoms appear.

Felicity Caborn ● 2412d

In China they appear to be working for fewer hours in a lot of PPE - much more covered than seen here.  That means that they don't eat or go to the loo once they have put it all on.  The number of hours worked here in a shift (12/14 for a nurse) means that medical staff often don't have time to eat properly and I'm sure that comfort breaks are minimal.  Hopefully this will be changed to better suit working with this highly infectious virus.

Philippa Bond ● 2411d

Thank you Felicity Caborn and Philippa Bond for valuable additions.

Una-Jane Winfield ● 2411d

  They actually work 12hrx4 shifts in china and overtime has no basic rate of pay attached.

Julian Pavey ● 2411d

So they must be wearing nappies.  That's more like here without all the PPE.  It is not what I've been told.

Philippa Bond ● 2411d

What a tragedy. Heartfelt condolences to his family and colleagues.

Stewart Jones ● 2411d

I was in tears at the tribute paid to the 55-year-old ENT doctor Amged El-Hawrani by his 18-year-old son. So mature and dignified for such a young man, speaking of how his father instilled in him what was important in life: family and work.

Susan Kelly ● 2411d

Bump

Stewart Jones ● 2410d

There are so many selfless people out there putting themselves on the line to get us through this.  They just carry on helping people - but unfortunately it appears to be the amount of time that they spend in close proximity with the virus that causes the problem.  I guess it just raises the chances of catching it so much higher. He is not the only doctor that has now sadly died from this very infectious virus.

Philippa Bond ● 2408d

You’re so right Philippa. I am a little surprised that there have been so few such comments in this thread.

Stewart Jones ● 2408d

Four doctors have now died and the number of nurses who have died have not been counted.

Philippa Bond ● 2407d

Appalling

Stewart Jones ● 2407d