An Oxford ICU nurse shares her frustration and weariness over lockdown rule flouting.
Dear Oxford Mail,
I am a nurse working in the Covid intensive care, one of those NHS heroes you have so acclaimed in the past year.
I am writing to you with the hope my voice can be heard somehow, even under the mask I am constantly wearing.
England has failed us.
ALSO READ: Map reveals 15 worst hit areas of county for Covid infections
And I am not talking as an Italian resident in UK about Brexit. No, I am talking about the prevention for this horrible virus that is now straining all the countries worldwide.
I am not talking about the the first wave and the delayed lockdown, despite the example of other countries that could have avoided many deaths, no, that is the past and it’s done.
I am not talking about the initial underestimation by Boris Johnson and his experts or the herd immunity they were all hoping for.
I am talking as a nurse working with Covid patients, critically ill patients that often die alone in an environment that is dreadful, and please do not underestimate my words.
England has let them down and has let us, the heroes, down.
There is very little prevention and very little control.
I see people in the streets without a mask, and no one around to tell them to wear one.
ALSO READ: 10 Covid deaths in county announced in one day
I see the number of cases being three times higher than in Italy, my native country, where there is control during lockdown, and police patrolling and fining people when they circulate without a certificate that proves a valid reason to be outside.
I see people walking around the streets of Oxford without a mask, only because it is outside, but yet when they walk across each other there is no social distancing.
I see children without a mask, despite the fact the WHO recommend them to wear a mask when they are more than five years old.
I see security staff at supermarkets without a mask.
I see old people without a mask or a visor on.
And then I see these people in my unit, where we are all fighting with the little resources we have to give them the best chance we can and save their lives.
What I don’t see is surveillance.
What I don’t see is people scared of going out, of realising how REAL this situation is.
I see people that are not challenged inside shops for not wearing a mask, because maybe they have health problems and they can’t wear one.
ALSO READ: Millions paid by hospital trust in negligence cases
If they have health problems, they should stay home and not enter shops, risking to spread the virus and even worse to catch it and end up dying alone in an intensive care.
I don’t see people scared of the virus.
I have been working as a nurse in UK since 2015 and I always loved this country and the possibilities that has given to me.
I love my job, but lately I am questioning why I should fight with all my strengths when the Government is not reinforcing the restrictions and trying to contain this bloody pandemic as it should.
I believe for this reason EU nationals are going back to their countries, on top of the fact they want to stay close to their family.
The NHS is struggling, we are struggling.
I haven’t seen my family for months.
Sometimes I wonder what is keeping me here, to fight for a country that is not going to heal anytime soon.
If the Government is not going to intervene, I am honestly not finding many reasons left.
I am tired, I cannot fight alone with my fellow heroes for much longer without the support of the country I am going to war for.
ALSO READ: Teacher makes 12th donation of her Covid-fighting blood
Many nurses are leaving the UK, our staffing level is unbearable, we cannot provide a decent care as we would like and letting our patients down.
Can you understand the frustration?
PLEASE help us.
PLEASE wear a mask, wash your hands, keep social distancing.
PLEASE put on restrictions and start patrolling and fining people.
PLEASE help them to understand.
PLEASE PLEASE challenge people not following the prevention measures.
PLEASE help us to fight.
An NHS hero
Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
For news updates straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.
Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on news@nqo.com or 01865 425 445.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel