NHS medics face PTSD battle after coronavirus epidemic as crisis takes toll on mental health
FEARS have been raised that many NHS staff on the frontline against coronavirus will be left with PTSD - after working in such confronting conditions.
Health leaders have warned the mental strain on doctors and nurses is unprecedented, and it will take its toll.
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Dean of the faculty of Intensive Care Medicine at Leeds University Dr Alison Pittard said she was worried for the impact treating coronavirus patients was having on staff.
She told : "I am really concerned about the toll this is taking and will continue to take on staff.
"We are used to dealing with emergencies, but we have never been exposed to this sort of demand.
"We know staff are struggling physically and mentally and that this will only continue."
Dr Pittard said she was particularly worried staff were already under immense pressure while the country has not even reached the "peak" of the disease yet.
She said: "The government's approach to flatten the peak will help to spread it out but what the means for staff is that we are in this for the long haul.
"We will get through this because that is what we do.
"But there will be some patients and staff who will suffer forms of PTSD and some staff with mild symptoms may not be aware and continue working and make themselves worse.
"We need to consider staff wellbeing in the future."
Harrowing scenes
The warning came after harrowing footage showed the grim fight doctors are up against to keep patients alive.
NHS staff are having to put up with the most difficult conditions - hours in hot, full protective gear, trying to keep up with patient care while there is a lack of equipment, and less and less staff available.
The skyrocketing number of infections could mean staff could be forced to work this way for weeks, and they will be even more stretched as their colleagues become infected or have to self isolate.
As of April 3, 2,249 patients have been admitted to 210 intensive care units.
Of those, 346 have died and 344 have been sent home.
The remaining 1,559 patients were still in intensive care.
Preparing for the peak
The NHS is preparing for the peak to hit in the next seven to 10 days.
Head of intensive care at London's Royal Free Hospital Dr Dan Martin wrote in a memo that most units had already shifted from the usual one nurse to patient ration to one to six patients.
The memo said: "Training has largely fallen by the wayside as it is too large a task. People are being trained on the job.
"Most centres now getting towards 1:6 nursing ration with high level of support workers on ICU.
"We need on support worker per patient. Other centres are using everyone they have.. from med students to dental hygienists."
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Biggest challenge NHS has faced
Deputy chief exec of NHS Providers Saffron Cordery said the NHS had never been put under pressure like this before.
She said: "The NHS is facing the biggest challenge of its lifetime and staff are working extremely hard round the clock to ensure that patients seriously ill with Covid-19 get the care they need.
"Trusts are doing all they can to support staff health and wellbeing and there are well-established support systems in place.
"However, there is no denying that this extraordinary effort by staff will be extremely tiring, stressful and demanding. Staff will be dealing with physically and emotionally challenging situations every hour of every day.
"NHS colleagues, whether they are a clinician, nurse, porter, cleaner, or senior leader, are pulling out all the stops, sometimes at the expense of their own wellbeing, to look after others.
"The NHS has never been more under strain but also the evidence of the spirit of the NHS has never been more evident or valued."
The coronavirus crisis is a difficult time for people across the country - whatever job they do - The Sun's You're Not Alone campaign is there to remind everyone there is hope, and to encourage people to look out for each other.
Dr Pittard, who is also a consultant at Leeds Teach Hospitals NHS trust, said the health service was at the limit.
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She said: "It is an unprecedented situation. In critical care, we are being forced to change how we work. Six months ago we wouldn’t have been able to cope, there is no doubt about that."
"We are pushing the boundaries of what critical care is in order to cope with demand."
She said she was "very uncomfortable" about the new staff ratios.
"There is no doubt there will be situations where safety will be compromised."
"We have to do the best we can."
YOU'RE NOT ALONE
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It's the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
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If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, , 0800 585 858
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- Mind, , 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus,, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, , 116 123
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