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HERO doctors are “breaking” on the front lines of the coronavirus, warned Labor’s shadow health minister.
And they are at risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a disease generally associated with soldiers returning from war, Rosena Allin-Khan said.
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The Labor MP, who has returned to his duties as an A&E doctor, said NHS staff have been stunned by the horror and death they are seeing in hospitals.
Although the shortage of PPE has terrified them of transmitting the coronavirus to their sick patients or loved ones.
He warned that there has been a worrying increase in the number of doctors self-injuring or killing themselves in the midst of the deadly pandemic.
The chief of labor has written to Secretary of Health Matt Hancock to demand that NHS staff get the mental health support they desperately need.
In the letter, seen by The Sun, he writes: “More and more, the NHS staff is falling apart, I see it on work shifts first hand.
“From the fear of spreading the virus to patients and loved ones, the lack of PPE, a greater workload due to the number of cases and staff absences, to the redistribution to ICUs and witnessing the death of more patients” .
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“The staff is experiencing increased pressure, which is inevitably affecting their mental health.
“In this time of crisis, staff mental health must be a priority now.
“It just can’t be an afterthought once the acute stage of the crisis is over.”
The Labor MP for Tooting has returned to her former job as an A&E doctor at St George’s Hospital in London to help combat the killer bug.
She said that as the numbers dying from the coronavirus decrease and the crisis begins to subside, the strain on front-line staff “should not be forgotten.”
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We are supporting a proposal by Lord Ashcroft to honor our health heroes with the gallantry gong given for acts of bravery that did not take place in battle.
A No10 spokesperson said: “The NHS is doing a fantastic job and the nation will want to find a way to thank you when we have beaten this virus.”
SAS hero Andy McNab added: “George’s Cross Award would demonstrate emotional appreciation.”
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All health workers should be able to receive therapy and support for PTSD if they wanted to, Ms. Allin-Khan said.
And he urged Hancock to start collecting data on the numbers that turn into self-harm and suicide amid the deadly pandemic amid growing reports.
Half of all health workers suffer from stress, trauma, and other mental health problems as a result of dealing with Covid-19, according to a YouGov survey published last week.
A Health Department spokesperson said: “The NHS staff is on the front lines fighting this global pandemic and we all owe them a huge debt.
“It is vital that we support the mental well-being of everyone in our NHS during this unprecedented period and there is a wide range of support that includes a dedicated helpline and access to additional resources.”
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