The outbreak of Covid-19 means hospitals and their staff have had to make drastic changes to how they work.

The National Health Service is, many people believe, spread very thin in terms of resources and staff are overworked. However, since the Coronavirus outbreak, the NHS and its workers have certainly been feeling the strain even more.

According to the government website, as of Monday 4 May 2020 in the UK:

190,584 confirmed Covid-19 cases

28,734 confirmed Covid-19 related deaths.

Towards the beginning of the pandemic the government came under fire for not providing sufficient Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the workers in the NHS and not responding quickly enough.

However, since then, businesses such as Dyson offered to make equipment to help the NHS, which was rejected by the government as they said they did not need it.

“All of our patients have pretty much been Covid related.”
Erin Meegan, Paediatric Health Care Assistant

Seven Nightingale Hospitals, which are critical care temporary hospitals, have also been built to help respond to the Covid-19 crisis.

The government had also asked former NHS staff to return to their roles to help deal with the crisis. Almost 5000 people have returned to their roles on the frontline with many more rejoining everyday.

Erin Meegan, a Paediatric Health Care Assistant at the Luton and Dunstable Hospital describes her experience of working in a hospital during the pandemic.

 

Erin Meegan, Paediatric Health Care Assistant, in PPE.

Whilst the pandemic continues, the number of Covid-19 related deaths and cases is changing everyday, with the numbers being regularly updated on the government website.