Most of us are not doctors or nurses, but many of us are in touch with our bodies enough to know when the medical advice we’re getting is wrong. So what do you do if you feel your medic is gaslighting you?

When I was 25, I had a ridiculous fall in a Sydney greengrocer – not on a banana skin – resulting in a small fracture to my L5-S1 vertebrae. Fortunately, I was referred to a neurosurgeon who prescribed physiotherapy, rather than being in a rush to brutally cut me open. 

Over the years, I had twinges of pain, but nothing that affected my quality of life. I continued with my misspent 20s. Moved to the Middle East, got married, moved to London, my passport filled with stamps, life was (and is) good.  

Then the back problems came back

In February this year, I started getting intense pain around the damn L5-S1 again. Like the horror movie creature that can’t quite be killed off, the pain was back with a vengeance, 22 years later. It was only a matter of time. I’d put on a bit of weight. I hadn’t been as active as I should be. I spend hours at my desk.

Read more: could you use some fitness and yoga classes at home?

It felt like my lower back was being compressed. Sitting down for too long was uncomfortable. Standing and walking around helped, until my club feet and arthritic ankle and knees started aching, for I am an orthopaedic nightmare.

Like the horror movie creature that can’t quite be killed off, the pain was back with a vengeance

Because of my medical history, I knew that something was not right, especially as I kept needing to pee. Dr Google warned of cauda equina syndrome, which requires emergency surgery to avoid paralysis.  

I called the GP and got an emergency telephone appointment – the doctor advised me to go to A&E in case it was cauda equina syndrome and offered to call an ambulance. Instead, I got my husband to drive me. En route, I picked up a letter from the GP advising that a scan “might” be necessary. 

“Might” turned out to be a word used against me by my local hospital, a hospital that I had campaigned to keep open. 

A&E tripping

At A&E, I was swiftly triaged. A friendly nurse gave me codeine for the pain and a blood test to rule out infection. I was moved mercifully quickly to the second waiting room. So far, so good, until a junior doctor called my name from behind his mask. 

From the time we sat down in a cubicle, I got the impression that he wasn’t listening and wanted me out of his hair. When I tried to explain my medical history, he seemed uninterested and kept interrupting me. When I suggested that a scan might be a good idea, he fobbed me off. 

He conducted a rectal examination, which is not my idea of fun, but is necessary to check for possible cauda equina. He asked me if I had a full bladder. I told him no, but he tried to do a bladder ultrasound anyway. A very confused nurse looked baffled at my empty bladder on the screen. Our eyes rolled in unison when the doctor announced that my bladder was indeed empty. No shit, Sherlock. So, I drank a load of water.  

…he wasn’t listening and wanted me out of his hair. When I tried to explain my medical history, he seemed uninterested and kept interrupting me

Another ultrasound confirmed my bladder was full and I was allowed to go to the loo. Weirdly, the junior doctor decided not to do the post-pee scan to confirm my bladder had properly emptied, even though this is how effective bladder function is confirmed and cauda equina can be ruled out. Again, I suggested a scan. The junior doctor said he’d speak to a consultant and sent me back to the waiting room. 

Read article: Are you drinking too much since lockdown?

The diagnosis 

In between WhatsApping increasingly frustrated updates to my husband, I googled private MRI scans – £250 seemed to be the going rate. I have £250, I thought to myself.  

I felt like a neurotic, hysterical middle-aged woman who was wasting his time

Finally, the doctor called my name again. Instead of going into a cubicle for a modicum of privacy, he started chatting to me in a busy corridor, handed me a prescription for an alarming cocktail of Tramadol and Amitriptyline, like Gran secretly handing you a fiver in the hallway. 

He told me to get a physiotherapy referral from my GP. I asked again about a scan. He said the consultant agreed that a scan wasn’t necessary. I asked how a physiotherapist would know what to do with me without a diagnosis. He told me it’d be fine and sent me away.  I felt like a neurotic, hysterical middle-aged woman who was wasting his time. 

As I waited for my husband to pick me up, I burst into tears in front of the hospital. I looked up Tramadol and Amitriptyline on the NHS website. The website clearly states that “it’s possible to become addicted to Tramadol, but your doctor will explain how to reduce those risks,” and that neither drug is suitable for people with a history of seizures. Guess who had childhood epilepsy? Yep. Me. Guess who was not asked about a history of seizures or warned of addiction risks during the dismissive corridor conversation. Yep. Me again!  

Second opinions 

The next day, I went to another local A&E department, musing that I was fortunate to live in London, with this access to healthcare. The experience at the second hospital was completely different. The lovely junior doctor gave me the time and space to explain my medical history and my bad experience. He apologised profusely, expressed horror at the prescription and said I did the right thing in seeking a second opinion. 

So many people might see this doctor in A&E and he might miss more serious conditions

After the previous day’s farcical bladder scan, I swigged another ocean of water so the tests could be conducted properly. Again, I had to endure a rectal examination. Although this time, the junior doctor was professional enough to insist on a female chaperone during the bum-foraging. Then, I was sent to radiology for a scan and X-rays. 

The good news was that I did not have cauda equina syndrome. The bad news was that 30% of my spinal column had eroded in, you guessed it, the L5-S1 vertebrae. If it gets down to 50% erosion, it’s really serious, so at least it had been spotted before it was too late. 

Within a week of getting the much-needed second opinion, I saw a physiotherapist who prescribed exercises that have helped enormously, but I was lucky. So many people would have accepted the words and terrifying prescription from the first doctor as gospel. So many people might see this doctor in A&E and he might miss more serious conditions. 

What could’ve been?

If I hadn’t been my own advocate, what might have happened? A serious prescription drug addiction? A resurgence of my childhood seizures? Further spinal column erosion?  

I had no beef with anyone at the first hospital, apart from the junior doctor and the faceless consultant. I wanted it known that a diagnosis of spinal erosion was missed. So, I made an official complaint and received an insulting, unsatisfactory response from the hospital trust.  

In the email I received, I was told the junior doctor denied my claim that I did not receive sufficient information about the prescriptions for addictive, seizure-inducing drugs. In my complaint, I attached a copy of the GP’s letter that I showed the junior doctor to back up my claim that a scan should have been done. But because the letter said a scan “might” be required, this was interpreted to mean that it wasn’t strictly necessary. I felt like I had fallen down a rabbit hole.   

The fact that the scan at the second hospital revealed a serious issue didn’t seem pertinent, and the trust closed ranks. Their response culminated in them letting me know that I could take this matter to the public health ombudsman if I was unsatisfied. And provided me with the wrong postal address. Submissions to the ombudsman now go to an address in Manchester, but I was given a London address. Just as well I looked it up for myself. 

 My detailed submission to the ombudsman was the end of the line

I received a phone call. I was told that while my experience at the first hospital was not good enough, no further action would be taken, because I had not suffered any permanent damage. The NHS is overstretched, and this has clearly extended into the ombudsman’s office. The person who called me was very apologetic, acknowledged that this was probably not the outcome I wanted. But no more could be done.  

This is genuinely terrifying. Where is the culture of prevention? Where is the drive to improve standards and make sure doctors who miss things will learn from mistakes before they put patients in real danger?  

For the record, I support the junior doctors’ strikes, 100 per cent. It is a hard, stressful, thankless job and it should be well rewarded. Equally, this means the people who do this important job in our NHS should be exceptional. I truly believe this is the case overall, but when mistakes are made – and this will happen when human beings are tired, overworked or just not bothered – there needs to be accountability, and lessons need to be learned. Nothing is gained by letting it slide if you have a bad experience.   

The NHS is not an infallible god. It is an amazing institution made up of dedicated, talented people. But, as is the case with any organisation of real people, real mistakes will happen, including medical gaslighting. Nobody should walk out of a hospital feeling they were not taken seriously. Or that their pain and symptoms were minimised, especially when it results in a diagnosis being missed.  

I am lucky enough to live near two major A&E departments, to be unafraid to be that woman who makes a fuss, to be my own best advocate. But it shouldn’t come down to postcodes or luck. Or the sheer force of personality as to whether you get a proper diagnosis or fall through the cracks in the system. Fixing the NHS is complicated, but remedying a complaints process where a trust can close ranks and serious action will only be taken if serious damage is done might be a good place to start. 

Georgia Lewis

In a career that has spanned Australia, the Middle East and the UK, Georgia has written about all sorts of things, including sex, cars, food, oil and gas, insurance, fashion, travel, workplace safety, health, religious affairs, glass and glazing… When she’s not writing words for fun and profit, she can usually be found with a glass of something French and red in her hand.

The post What if the medical advice is wrong? Defying doubt and trusting your instincts appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Illustration by Charlie Mackesy to celebrate the NHS’s 75th anniversary

The NHS is an essential part of all our lives. And it’s great to see how passionate the UK feels about protecting this beloved institution we’re so lucky to have. Particularly after the dedication and strength the staff demonstrated during the pandemic. As the service turns 75, let’s explore the many ways we can support the NHS this year.

1. Do you want to join the NHS team?

Joining the NHS as staff is one of the biggest things you can do to support it. Especially when there’s a staff shortage in many areas of the service, any new employee is a plus. With 1.3 million staff, the NHS is Europe’s biggest employer.

There are 350 careers available, so there is a job for you if you want to make a difference. But don’t fret – it doesn’t have to be a clinical role. The NHS employs electricians, administration, porters, accountants, and caterers. Take a look at more information here.

You can work for the NHS whatever your work or educational background is. And there are options to make the career move from another sector (it isn’t only open to the young, fresh graduates). The NHS has a wide range of employers, such as hospitals, emergency services, GP practices, and opticians, as well as monitoring services like NHS England.

Alternatively, there are roles in social care and public health to support people and protect their health. Learn more about careers in the NHS here.

Read more: Beat the ageism game. How to create a great CV when you’re over 50

2. Are you bloody brilliant?

Thanks to their kindness, blood donors save thousands of lives every day. But there is still an urgent need for more supplies. The NHS requires 5000 blood donations every day and 135,000 new donors every year.

Although it may seem disconcerting to some, there is always a member of staff by your side to make sure you’re all right. And, there’s usually a cheeky bicky and squash after, to up your sugars.

Most people aged between 17 and 65 can give blood. However, the NHS specifically needs 40,000 more Black donors to support the growing demand and treat sickle cell disease. If you feel like you can help and support the NHS as it turns 75, click here for more information.

Winner of the ‘Our Partners’ category for the NHS staff & volunteers FUJIFILM competition. Photo: Mary McConnell & Jenny Brodie

3. Could you volunteer locally?

NHS and CARE Volunteer Responders allow you to support the NHS, its patients, and people through social care. A dedicated app makes this work flexible – roles are advertised here if you are interested.

Other volunteer roles include companionship for patients, being a first responder, fundraising, and supporting charities. Or you could even become a hospital radio DJ! There are more details here.

4. Are you on the NHS Organ Donor Register?

If you decide to donate your organs after you die, you will save or transform the life of up to nine lives, and more by donating tissue.

You can register your decision here. But remember, it is always a good idea to discuss this with your loved ones so that they are in the know.

Winner of the ‘Our Environment’ category for the NHS staff & volunteers FUJIFILM competition. Photo: Joe Cartwright

5. What is the NHS1000 miles challenge?

To mark the 75^th birthday of the NHS, you can join the NHS1000-mile challenge and commit to walking, running, swimming, or cycling 1000 miles this year. That may sound impossible, but on average it’s only 2.74 miles per day – so let’s get those steps in.

Participants are encouraged to keep a record of their weekly miles and share their progress via Twitter every Sunday night using the hashtag #NHS1000miles.

Let’s not forget – physical activity is great for our physical and mental health. We should all aim to be active every day to improve our sleep, clear our minds, and boost our energy.

It’s free to take part in, but there is the option to get sponsored. You can set up a Just Giving page here and this spreadsheet will allow you to track your miles. To get started, try the NHS Couch to 5K or attend your local park run. Good luck!

6. Do you want to transform the health of the nation?

The health revolution that has taken place over the last 75 years would not be possible without the 230+ NHS charities located in the UK.

By volunteering and donating to NHS charities, you can support research, renovation, technologies, and the staff, who help the NHS transform the health and wellbeing of the nation. If you are interested in offering your support, learn more about it here.

7. Did you know you can get involved in research?

Research is the foundation of the NHS. And further research will play an important part in shaping the future of the NHS by discovering life-saving treatments, uncovering the secrets behind diseases, and developing the answers to the problems causing ill health today.

It is super easy for us all to get involved and help design research studies and advise what the priorities for the future should be. Get in touch here with questions you want the NHS to find the answers for, find research applications up for review, and decide what research gets funded.

To support the NHS as it turns 75, take part in a study, pop over to your GP and ask for information on trials or studies in your area. Or click here to sign up for alerts.

Photo: Nicolas Leclerq

From everyone at Silver, happy birthday NHS and thank you for everything you do. Here’s to many more years of revolutionary healthcare and outstanding kindness.

Click here for more NHS birthday events and news.

Beth Pratt

Beth is one of Silver’s interns. She loves reading and studying literature. Entering her final year of university, Beth still finds time to dance, swim, and have a pint with friends. Her favourite hobby is going to coffee shops, if you can call it a hobby!

The post 7 ways to support the NHS – things you can do appeared first on Silver Magazine.

The info in this article may well change, but we’ll try to keep an eye on it. But for now, here are strike dates and walkouts in the UK coming up around Christmas.

Royal Mail 

Royal Mail have announced strike actions over an increase in pay by 9 per cent. 

During National Strike days, Royal Mail has shared that they will not be delivering letters. They will prioritise 24 hour tracked, and special delivery parcels and letters. Covid tests and medical prescriptions will also be prioritised where possible. 

Post Offices will be opening and operating as usual, but customers should expect delays to anything posted on or after strike action days. 

Dates: 

• 14-15 December 
• 23-24 December

Railway workers

Strike action is being carried out by the RMT union. It’s likely that services running on these days will be limited. There is also disruption predicted around the days leading up to, and post strike action.

Dates:

• 13-14 December
• 16-17 December
• From 6pm, 24 – until 6am, 27 December
• 3-4 January 2023
• 6-7 January 2023

Nurses

The Royal College of Nursing have announced industrial action over fairer wages. They’re calling for a 17.6 per cent pay rise.  

Dates: 

• 15 December
• 20 December

Ambulance service

Unions GMB, Unison, and Unite have announced industrial action for ambulance workers over pay, after Government refused demands of a pay increase. 

The strikes will see more than 10,000 ambulance workers across England and Wales taking action.

The trusts affected are South West Ambulance Service, South East Coast Ambulance Service, North West Ambulance Service, South Central Ambulance Service, North East Ambulance Service, East Midlands Ambulance Service, West Midlands Ambulance Service, Welsh Ambulance Service, and Yorkshire Ambulance Service. 

Dates: 

• 21 December
• 28 December (GMB Union only)

UK Border Force

UK Border staff from the PCS union are expected to strike on the below dates over pensions, fair pay, and job security. Meaning that passengers may find flights cancelled over these dates.

Airports expected to be effected are London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham, and Cardiff. 

Military personnel, along with civil servants are undergoing training to make up for the missing staff come action days. However, the Director-General of Border Force is still warning that “our contingency workforce will not be able to operate with the same efficiency as our permanent workforce.” 

Dates: 

• 23-26 December
• 28-31 December 

Do you run a business? Get ready for the digital future

Lana Hall

Lana can usually be found spinning her collection of records, or writing odd poems in her phone notes. Her mixer of choice is a ginger beer, and you’ll never find her away from the sea for more than a few weeks.

The post Christmas strike dates – winter strikes and walkouts appeared first on Silver Magazine.

By November of last year, the number of long COVID sufferers globally stood at a staggering 100million. In research published by the University of Michigan, which took in 40 studies from 17 different countries, the most common symptom is fatigue. But the list includes shortness of breath, insomnia, aching joints, and brain fog.

Anecdotally, it’s clear that there is an even more vast range of symptoms associated with long COVID, and this aftershock effect is something that most health authorities were unprepared for. Unpredictable and unavoidable, there is a slight increase in the chance of developing it in Asia, and certainly it’s more likely if you were hospitalised with COVID. It’s also slightly more prevalent in women. But largely, it’s indiscriminate, and can be very serious.

For Cheryl Jones, 62, the aftercare has been a let-down

Cheryl Jones

Cheryl caught COVID during Christmas 2020, before being admitted to hospital on 30th December. She didn’t come home until 5th February.

The Jones family tested positive on Boxing Day. Both Cheryl’s husband and eldest son were ill, but her youngest luckily avoided symptoms. Cheryl’s experience was different.

“I was okay to begin with, just experiencing a slight cough. Then I went downhill quickly, resulting in my son calling for an ambulance. I had COVID pneumonia and was taken in [to hospital] straight away, as my oxygen levels were very low.”

Despite the scary situation, Cheryl described the hospital staff and ambulance crew as second to none. She felt she received great care and attention despite the hospital being short-staffed.

“We had been so careful with where we had been and who we saw, but we still ended up getting COVID. I have Crohn’s Disease and fibromyalgia, so I wasn’t surprised that I got so ill with it. I had to come off my medication for Crohn’s, but I was lucky that it didn’t flare up.

“Long COVID is very much like fibromyalgia with the fatigue and sore muscles, but it is the breathlessness that’s hardest to cope with. I was unable to get out of the bath or climb the stairs without getting out of breath.”

Cheryl felt the aftercare was not of the same standard she received at the beginning of her illness.

“The aftercare has been really bad. I didn’t receive any follow-up until I insisted on seeing a doctor in March/April when I wasn’t getting any better. Here, I was told I should have received a follow-up X-ray six weeks after I left the hospital, which I didn’t have until April.

Long COVID is very much like fibromyalgia with the fatigue and sore muscles, but it is the breathlessness that’s hardest

“Again, I heard nothing, and had to insist on seeing a doctor again. They diagnosed me with long COVID and referred me to the long COVID Clinic, where I would undergo more in-depth tests. In fact, it wasn’t a clinic at all, just someone at the end of the phone, asking questions and referring me to other people. When I went back to see my GP, I was told that they were unaware of all of this. They referred me back to the hospital to the Respiratory Support Unit, by whom I am still waiting to be seen.

“The only good thing to come out of the aftercare was my referral to the ENO (ENO Breathe is a programme that has been specifically developed for people recovering from COVID) for breathing exercises which I have started this month. I was informed that I was suffering from PTSD and needed to talk to someone, which I am still waiting for.

“I feel very let down by the follow-up services and the ‘clinic’, whom I’m still waiting to hear back from since the initial telephone call. I don’t think there is any support out there at all.

“My family have been great, and supportive, particularly since my anxiety levels have been getting higher as I worry about catching COVID again. I am lucky enough to be able to go and see a brilliant Osteopath who has helped me with getting my diaphragm and body back to how it was before I caught COVID, but this is privately funded.

I feel very let down by the follow-up services. I don’t think there is any support out there at all.

“A positive outlook of my experience has been my joining of a wellbeing club set up by Crawley Council, which I found through my own means. I go once a week which helps me get my fitness levels back up.

“I really do feel that a lot of people have just been left to try to cope alone, essentially left to ‘get on with it’.”

Thomas Jepsen, 29, took every precaution, but it wasn’t enough

Thomas Jepsen

“I’m the CEO of an architecture company. I thought I was invincible. I thought I was taking all the precautions necessary. At one point, I virtually had more hand sanitizer in me than water. I got COVID 14 months ago, in October 2020.

“I lost my sense of taste very early on and developed a strong cough, unlike what I ever get if I get a fever. I felt extremely fatigued and could barely walk up a

flight of stairs. I got tested, but it was pretty obvious what it was, as I had others around me that got it as well. I kept getting worse but didn’t want to seek out medical help in fear of infecting others. It kept getting worse until the day before I had intended on seeking out a doctor, at which point I started feeling better. I was sick for two weeks before I started getting better.

“I have had absolutely no sense of taste for 14 months. It’s the longest I’ve heard of anyone losing it. I still feel fatigued and cannot do nearly the level of physical activity I used to be able to. It pains me that people aren’t taking it seriously. The doctors I have gone to afterwards have been perplexed by the fact that my sense of taste is still gone.

I sincerely hope that the symptoms will go away but I am starting to realize that they may not

“I created a local support group for people that have had or otherwise been affected by COVID. I sincerely hope that the symptoms will go away but I am starting to realize that they may not. I have days where I feel more fatigued than others. The feelings I’m met with have been mixed. Some don’t believe me when I say I don’t have any sense of taste.

“I wake up every morning and tell myself to stay strong. The support group I’ve created has played a massive role in getting my head right. I know that we will one day wake up to normal times again, and I long for that day.”

Julia Emmanuelle has been living long COVID for over 18 months

She caught COVID in April 2020, just as the country was plummeted into the first lockdown.

While the initial COVID symptoms subsided, Julia developed long COVID with her main symptom consisting of severe chest pains. Alongside this, she has been suffering with extreme fatigue and headaches.

“My experience with long COVID consisted of chest tightness, fever, and exhaustion. The inability to breathe properly was scary. After the first two weeks, the stabbing pains in my chest started to get worse. During the third week, I had a chest X-ray. Through private healthcare, I was sent for a lung CT and lung functioning tests in weeks four and five. About eight weeks after, the stabbing chest pain came back, and I was referred to a cardiologist for an echocardiogram and a cardiac MRI. I was diagnosed with pericarditis, which is an inflammation of the heart wall, as a result of COVID.”

In terms of treatment, Julia joined TenClinical’s COVID Recovery Programme. Despite the diagnosis, none of the treatment had a significant impact, and the pain persisted. Her treatment with TenClinical has been focused on cardiovascular training and strengthening the muscles around the heart.

“As a result of my treatment with TenClinical, I can walk faster and complete more intense exercises while keeping my heart rate below 120bpm,” says Julia. “Which is in the safe zone. Being able to do exercise again makes me feel better, despite the frustration of having had pericardial pain for over a year.

… trying all sorts of natural supplements for the inflammation (such as magnesium, turmeric and omega 3) has been a big element in me trying to alleviate my symptoms

“From a medical perspective, I took Colchicine for over eight months, as well as having two rounds of steroid treatment and high doses of aspirin. I tried to get referred to the NHS Long COVID Clinics, but was told they only focus on pulmonary rehab, as they have no specialists for cardiology issues.

“Playing with my diet and trying all sorts of natural supplements for the inflammation (such as magnesium, turmeric and omega 3) has been a big element in me trying to alleviate my symptoms.”

In terms of NHS treatment for long COVID, Julia feels much the same way as Cheryl.

“The support from the NHS has been zero; if I didn’t have access to private coverage, I wouldn’t have had anyone to look after me. I already changed cardiologists once, and also consulted cardiologists overseas in Canada and Europe. Very few understand my case…

“I fell pregnant in February 2021, and I’ve been a guinea pig as a long COVID patient having a baby. I managed to get through the pregnancy without further complications, but I’m still suffering from some chest pain post-delivery of my baby boy at the beginning of November.

It’s common to see people thinking that they are fully recovered, do high intensity exercise, and then getting even worse

“The key piece of advice when it comes to getting better is to follow the medical advice, and be patient and persistent. From the physiological point of view, it’s important to listen to the body and make sure that whatever we do it’s not going to make the symptoms to get worse so it’s essential to identified reg flags and thresholds.

“We have often seen regressions when it comes to exercise and symptoms. It’s common to see people thinking that they are fully recovered, do high intensity exercise, and then getting even worse than when they got COVID for the first time. That’s why it’s important to identified the red flags and thresholds mentioned above and work from there. Set a recovery plan and start achieving little goals and get better.

“You never know how your body will react to COVID, or any other illness. So much of it is a mental game – meditation and positive thinking can massively improve the day-to-day impacts of physical illness.”

Interviews edited for clarity
For more information about long COVID head to the Your COVID Recovery site

Carly Pepperell

Carly gets to do everything under the sun, including writing, editing, taking photos, creating stories, and swanning around at launches. She can down a glass of Prosecco without pausing for breath, and aims to be the youngest Pulitzer winner ever.

The post The emerging impact of long COVID – where is the care? appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Yesterday Laurence Fox tweeted about how we should let cameras into hospitals. I expect he imagines that some kind of exposé will blow people’s minds. That we will see that the fear-mongering is all nonsense and hospitals are fine, with loads of empty beds. Bless him.

My father has been in the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton since the end of October. He’s not there because of Covid, but because he had open heart surgery, and then tumbled headlong into a hideous rabbit hole of cumulative complications.

I won’t give you chapter and verse of the last two and a half months; but in short, he contracted hospital-borne pneumonia, leading to congested lungs, infections that made him mad, kidney trauma, and coughing which broke his chest open again. Once he bust his chest open we entered a new circle of hell, which was repair work, internal bleeds, and secondary infections.

As we stand today he’s had seven operations and spent over a month on a ventilator. He’s been in the Cardiac Intensive Care (CICU) almost the whole time, and he’s critically ill. We might not get him back. It’s been a fun Christmas.

The rise in Covid cases changed everything at the hospital

…they needed more beds in the Cardiac ICU because the normal ICU was bursting with Covid patients

I expect when people think about whether there are enough beds in hospitals, they think of it in terms of counting bedframes and mattresses. I know I did. What I had absolutely no idea about was how Covid pressures affect the logistics of running the existing hospital infrastructure. Here’s a good example:

Dad was moved to a different ward when staff cautiously thought he might be improving. We were concerned he was moving out of CICU too quickly, but essentially it was a juggling act for them – they needed more beds in the Cardiac ICU because the normal ICU was bursting with Covid patients. Already a compromise, mixing patients like that, but no choice.

Once Dad was in the step-down ward, he was OK until a patient came in from another hospital, for the same reason, overflowing with Covid cases. This patient then tested positive for Covid on arrival at Brighton. What happens next in these cases is intense, when someone tests positive. Whether it’s a patient or member of staff.

Operation Cleanup

Everyone on that ward – that’s the patients, nurses, doctors, ACPs, cleaners… everyone who has come into contact with that patient – has to isolate. So that’s all those people off work for a minimum of seven days. The ward is marked Code Red. The remaining staff in those teams and departments immediately have to ramp up their already-probably-illegal hours to cover these absences.

The patients in that ward then get moved to other wards where there are Amber bays, and are put into isolation for 14 days. That means that all hospital staff that now come into contact with them have to wear full PPE. And many of these patients were already gravely ill. Now they face a possible infection too. Stay with me. There’s more.

Go back to the original ward, and they’ve now got to deep clean that ward and EVERYTHING IN IT. That’s all the beds, equipment, cupboards full of meds, nurses’ stations – just take a minute to think about that, and all the kit you see on any given hospital ward. They have to clean everything, every time this happens. And that’s with a load of your team at home isolating too.

And once that’s done, then they can mark the ward Green again, and take patients who are Covid negative from other parts of the hospital. The ward might not be entirely suitable for their medical purpose but that’s just tough right now. Everyone is doing their best.

Enjoying this article? You may like these interviews with famous faces about their lockdown experiences

This happens in every ward, every single time someone tests positive

Can you even imagine the work involved? Across a large hospital with multiple wards; imagine the juggling of patients. The massive loss of personnel. The cleaning. The time spent doing this instead of nursing. All of this is before they even start to think about where the standard gravely ill patients can go. What about the ICU departments where critically ill people are fighting for their lives WITHOUT Covid. What do you do? Put Covid patients in the bed next to them? No.

What about the ICU departments where critically ill people are fighting for their lives WITHOUT Covid. What do you do? Put Covid patients in the bed next to them?

Once Dad was moved out of the Red ward he went downhill again and ended up being whipped into emergency theatre for yet another chest bleed and infection. Once he came out of theatre the hospital had a dilemma.

He needed critical intensive care, but the entire Cardiac ICU ward was now Red, full of Covid patients. And he couldn’t go to the standard ICU because that had gone Green, and he was still Amber, still in his isolation period. They can’t risk putting him in with the other patients until he tests negative.

So they ended up having to isolate Dad, on a ventilator, in a separate bay, on a Red ward, until he passed a negative test. Not only was this unbelievably stressful for us – if he caught Covid he wouldn’t stand a chance now, it would kill him – but it also meant in order to keep him safe from the Reds, he was in a bay with four beds, on his own.

Ultimately he tested negative a couple of days ago and is now in a Green ICU ward (thank god). But that was four days of him essentially holding up four beds, in order for him to remain isolated from the Covid patients. And this happens a lot. The sliding puzzle they’re playing with the beds is mind-blowing.

This has been an eye-opener for me

Maybe you’re reading this and you’ve already realised this is how it must be. I know I had absolutely no idea. I imagined that you’d have Covid wards and non-Covid wards, and that would be it. Simple.

To a degree that’s true. But what I hadn’t factored in was the impact that rogue infections in other wards would make. Or the need to isolate both staff and patients. Nor had I thought about the relentless deep cleaning going on constantly, or the issues with having enough safe spaces for intensive care patients that don’t have Covid. Sometimes the numbers just don’t stack up, and you end up with insane compromises, like having my dad on his own in a four bed bay, just to keep him safe from Covid.

So next time you’re hearing that there are X number of cases, and Y number of beds, and possibly wondering why it’s such an issue, remember this. This is just a tiny insight into what’s happening in the hospitals and if you could see it firsthand, like I have, you’d be humbled. As for clapping for the NHS – it needs something much more robust than that to support it. But you can start by having a bit more respect Lozza.

Sam Harrington-Lowe

Sam is Silver’s founder and editor-in-chief. She’s largely responsible for organising all the things, but still finds time to do the odd bit of writing. Not enough though. Send help.

The post This is why Covid puts so much pressure on hospitals. An inside view. appeared first on Silver Magazine.