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An NHS doctor has shared a selfie showing her face covered in red and purple marks after working a gruelling shift treating coronavirus patients in a London hospital, prompting other healthcare workers to do the same in a bid to encourage the public to self-isolate.
The stark picture, shared by anaesthetic registrar Natalie Silvey, from London, sparked a series of selfies from others showing the harrowing effects of treating people with the deadly illness for long shifts without a break.
All the workers pictured have bruises caused by the heavy-duty protective masks they need to wear while treating the highly-contagious virus, with many admitting that being on the front line had left them feeling ‘broken’.
It comes as The Royal College of Nursing condemned the ‘abhorrent’ actions of members of the public for calling NHS staff ‘disease spreaders’ in the streets.
Dr Silvey said she wanted to ‘scream’ at people to self-isolate after wearing the personal protective equipment for nine hours straight.
Anaesthetic registrar Natalie Silvey, from London, posted the above photo showing how wearing a heavy-duty mask to treat patients with coronavirus had affected her. The stark photo prompted a series of health workers to share their own selfies showing the effects of treating the deadly illness over long hours without relief
She shared the image at the end of a nine-hour shift, and urged others to take safety precautions.
She wrote: ‘This is the face of someone who just spent 9 hours in personal protective equipment moving critically ill Covid19 patients around London.
‘I feel broken – and we are only at the start. I am begging people, please please do social distancing and self isolation #covid19’
She added: ‘Those red/purple marks across my face are from my mask and are deeper than you think. Today I have seen just what covid19 is doing and now I just want to scream at people to listen to us.
‘I volunteered to do this. The consultant anaesthetist I was with volunteered. This is bringing out the best of us. Now can the rest of the country please bring out their best and listen! #covid19’
Emma Sterba, a critical care nurse from Kent also shared an image, with red marks across her face. She wrote: ‘I feel your pain this was me last night on shift as a critical nurse when I went on my lunch hour after wearing a mask and all the gear and do you know what I wouldn’t be doing anything else!
Natalie and Emma later shared their gratitude for one another saying they are in this together
She added she was a ‘crying mess’ when she posted the photos and thanked nurses, who she dubbed ‘the real heroes’.
‘The real heroes – nurses. Today I saw just what efforts they are going to and I am truly humbled to work alongside them’ the doctor added.
‘I am glad you haven’t seen what I saw today. My colleagues working flat out, nurses barely stopping to take a breath, trying to save the lives of critically unwell patients.
She was quickly inundated with supportive messages with other NHS staff posting similar pictures of their strife.
Another NHS worker said: ‘I share your pain. Suspected case the other day. But ITU so full PPE. Thank you for everything you’re doing rest when you can. And keep safe.’
Emma Sterba, a critical care nurse from Kent also shared an image, with red and purple marks across her face.
She wrote: ‘I feel your pain this was me last night on shift as a critical nurse when I went on my lunch hour after wearing a mask and all the gear and do you know what I wouldn’t be doing anything else!
Another NHS worker said: ‘I share your pain. Suspected case the other day. But ITU so full PPE. Thank you for everything you’re doing rest when you can. And keep safe.’
Liz Staveacre, Critical Care & Outreach Consultant Nurse from Hillingdon added a picture form four-hours into her shift showing deep set marks in her face.
Liz Staveacre, Critical Care & Outreach Consultant Nurse from Hillingdon added a picture from four hours into her shift showing deep set marks in her face.
It comes as Boris Johnson today urged Britons to celebrate Mother’s Day remotely by using video calls – as he admits the NHS is on the brink of being ‘overwhelmed’ by the coronavirus outbreak.
The Prime Minister’s warning that ‘the numbers are very stark and they are accelerating’ came as the UK death toll soared to 233 – up 56 in a day.
Doctors warned that a ‘tsunami’ of severely-ill patients was about to engulf them, describing near-apocalyptic scenes amid chronic shortages of basic equipment and fears that unprotected medics could either become desperately ill themselves or become carriers and infect others.
As hospitals raced to convert operating theatres into intensive care wards and begged vets to hand over ventilators normally used for pets, Mr Johnson pleaded with the public to reduce social interaction, even with their mothers.
It comes as nurses have complained of being spat at on the streets and referred to as ‘disease spreaders’ by members of the public.
The Royal College of Nursing have condemned their actions as ‘abhorrent’ and called for people – many of whom could soon be struck down by the virus – to be kind.
North Manchester General Hospital Infectious Diseases ward team urges people to stay home
Susan Masters, the union’s director of policy, said: ‘I am speaking up for nurses and nursing in every possible setting.
England’s chief nursing officer Ruth May has raised similar concerns about the treatment of staff.
‘I’ve seen all over Twitter some of our nurses and midwives and care staff being spat at and being abused by member of the public,’ said told BBC Breakfast this week.
‘Please be very kind to your nurses and midwives because you may need them very soon.’
And last week, nurse Reizel Angela was forced to plea for decency on social media after she was assaulted in a racially-motivated attack while on the way to work an overtime night shift.
Several MPs have also returned to the frontline as doctors and nurses including Conservative Maria Caulfield for Lewes
‘Yesterday I was racially abused by a couple at the train station on my way to a night shift at the hospital.
‘A man elbowed my rib, intentionally pushing me to the side, the female partner then shouted racial abuse saying: “at least we are whites you f***ing c***.
‘I felt the need to share this experience as it has really affected me in a way that I couldn’t even begin to explain.
‘The coronavirus is not an excuse for ANY form of discrimination. People need to realise that every single person is affected and is going through a VERY difficult and vulnerable time.’
More than 65,000 retired NHS staff in England and Wales have been sent letters asking them to return to work to help fight the spread of Covid-19.
Several MPs have also returned to the frontline including Conservative Maria Caulfield for Lewes, who tweeted: ‘I will be returning to the front line in the NHS to support the fight against the coronavirus, important we all help where we can.’
South Central Ambulance Service share a photo (left) of a paramedic in their personal protective equipment, telling patients not to worry if they saw someone wearing one
Another GP shared an image of a face mask and protective gloves that he was sent for home visits
‘Today I hear from community nurses that they are being heckled at and verbally abused in the street and called “disease spreaders“. This is abhorrent behaviour it must stop.’
Speaking to the Independent she added: ‘They are going in to see patients and caring for them when everyone else is keeping their distance. The public need to understand that nurses are socially critical and right now society needs us more than ever.’
Thousands of people replied to the tweets thanking the NHS workers for their hard work in trying times.
Love Island voiceover Iain Sterling wrote: ‘You’re an absolute legend. I can’t thank you enough. Please send my love and gratitude to your entire team x’
Writer Danny Wallace added: ‘Thank you so much for what you’re doing. Thank you thank you thank you. And sorry for those not listening’
Thousands of people replied to the tweets thanking the NHS workers for their hard work in trying times
Comedian Aisling Bea added: ‘Thank you Natalie and also all the healthcare workers on this thread posting photos showing the gruelling hours you guys are putting in. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU, love a grateful-lacking- in- real-skills- which- could-help idiot. xx’
Another wrote: ‘I am so grateful to you and your colleagues and truly shaken by the staggering stupidity and selfishness of some of my fellow citizens. I don’t know how you cope with the Tsunami of very sick patients. Me and my friends are doing our best to stay in and stay safe & save you.
A second said: ‘Thank you for doing this. The NHS needs us all to make sacrifices if we are to overcome this crisis and save as many lives as possible. Please listen to Natalie folks and think of others you may be healthy but you can spread this horrible virus to others who are vulnerable.’
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