Bradford Royal Infirmary Nurse Pleads With People To Obey The Lockdown Rules

An intensive care nurse at Bradford Royal Infirmary has pleaded with the public to stick to lockdown rules as the number of patients being admitted to hospital rises.

Marianne Downey, a critical care matron revealed staff had been overwhelmed by gifts from the public – but the best gift of all would be for people to follow government guidance.

She said:
“We've received lots of messages of thanks in intensive care. We are overwhelmed with gifts; very thoughtful gifts such as hand cream and lip balm. But we really just want people to follow the guidance. That's the best gift you can give to any NHS worker now. Please just follow the guidance.”

She added that hospital staff were running two intensive care units - one for Covid-19 patients and the other for people who needed surgery or have suffered illnesses such as heart attacks and strokes.

“Patients are normally offered one-to-one care but nurses are currently looking after four ICU beds at once.

“In 20 years working in the NHS, I have never seen an organisation stretched to the limit as we are now, and I have never seen patients as sick as this.

“Sometimes people find it difficult to accept that Covid-19 is real but when you’re in it, as we are as healthcare professionals every day, I can confidently tell everyone out there that it is extremely real.”

Marianne added that critical care staff are coping, but exhausted.

“My experience of critical care nurses is that they don't cry on people's shoulders, they go and find a quiet place to cry on their own. The vast majority of our nursing team have had sessions with psychologists. It's a massive psychological drain for staff and nurses on critical care. They carry a burden of grief.

“Please just follow the lockdown rules, stay at home, protect yourselves and your loved ones – and protect the NHS.”