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SINGAPORE: It was nothing more than a sore throat and cough, symptoms that in normal times would not be a cause for concern.
But these are far from ordinary times and the Singapore doctor knew he had to isolate himself. After all, he was part of a team treating COVID-19 patients at a hospital in the UK.
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“It was very mild the whole time,” said the doctor, who asked not to be identified to protect the identity of his hospital and his patients. “According to government guidelines … you have to isolate yourself. And I felt that you had to be responsible and stay home.
“I had been exposed to so many people with coronaviruses and it would be unwise to say that it is just a normal virus and keep walking.”
Although he was largely calm (the mildness of his symptoms was a reassuring sign), there were thoughts that would cross his mind during his time in isolation.
“You really think, ‘What if I die now? Was my work really helpful? Was it really meaningful in the end? You definitely care. It was a great wake-up call,'” the doctor said.
“I felt like I was disappointing my team by staying home when they might have needed my help. But on the other hand, I would have disappointed my team if I had gone to work and infected the room if I had been infected with COVID-19.”
NHS staff pause for a minute of silence to honor key UK workers who died during the AFP / ANDY BUCHANAN coronavirus outbreak
‘THIS WAS MY JOB, MY DUTY’
Since the start of the pandemic, there have been more than 200,000 cases of COVID-19 in the UK, with more than 30,000 deaths so far.
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“When the coronavirus first hit, it was chaos … It was a ‘I can’t believe I’m here’ situation for many people,” said the doctor. “Some people were panicking, they were very stressed, in part due to lack of protection and lack of protocol … We were in the process of creating a room for COVID-19 patients, (but) it was not yet complete. “
At the time, there was no firm policy on wearing masks at his hospital, said the doctor, whose daily duties include normal ward work as well as being on call, which means seeing new admissions and current patients outside of schedule.
“It was also taught that not disposing of the mask immediately after working alongside a patient would spread the virus,” he said. Staff were told not to wear masks in the common areas of the rooms because it would be a burden on resources, the doctor recalled.
The shortage of personal protective equipment has been widely reported among the media in the UK. Last month Robert Jenrick, secretary of state for housing, communities and secretary of local government, said there was a “shortage” of personal protective equipment.
“Supply in some areas, particularly robes and certain types of masks and aprons, is tight right now, and that must be an extremely anxious time for people working on the front line, but they must be sure that we are doing everything so they can correct this problem and get the equipment they need, “he said in comments reported by local media.
At the doctor’s hospital, staff were initially required to wear PPE that includes a surgical mask, white apron, and bedside gloves for suspected and confirmed COVID-19 patients.
“I was thinking that I’m wearing this ridiculous little mask, gloves and apron, which is almost like what my grandfather wears when he goes out, wears mask and gloves.” he said.
Days later, the doctor was called to attend to a COVID-19 case. The patient’s oxygen levels were low and he was coughing nonstop, he recalled.
“(I just thought) This was my job, my duty. I can’t just sit outside and let the patient die. I just had to go inside,” said the doctor. The patient needed oxygen, but refused to put on the oxygen mask.
“At first, the patient really didn’t want to … but then I asked him, ‘Do you know about the virus? The patient said,’ I don’t want to get the virus, ‘and was very afraid of it, but still didn’t want to wear the mask.” added the doctor.
“I argued with a doctor, I went back to the patient and said, ‘If you don’t wear a mask, you will die.’ The patient eventually put it on.”
The COVID-19 wards were finally established, as was the segregation of doctors into different teams to treat patients, the doctor said.
In addition to their PPE, doctors now also wear an additional eye protector when they are at the bedside of all patients. Staffing at the doctor’s hospital has also increased.
A HUMBLE EXPERIENCE
Working in the hospital has been stressful for both nurses and doctors, the doctor admitted.
“When you work with coronavirus patients and you’re busy, the tensions are very high,” said the doctor. “I was able to see some of my colleagues, like older colleagues with underlying health problems, who were very concerned and anxious. I know a senior doctor who did not sleep for three days, had to be busy and preparing.”
But at the same time, staff now sometimes find themselves with more time on their hands, the doctor said. This is because many non-emergency procedures were ruled out.
“Suddenly the coronavirus arrived, it was the first time in months that I could leave at 5 o’clock, because many things are canceled,” he added. “Lots and lots of surgeries, operations, things like that are all canceled.”
READ: “The most difficult thing I’ve been through”: hallucinations, fever, pneumonia, but finally the victory for this patient with COVID-19
But challenges remain for frontline medical personnel, he added.
For example, the tests are not yet widely available in your area at this time, the doctor said. “If he gets sick, he is told to stay home,” he said. “The tests are only for people who have to be admitted to the hospital and have signs of the coronavirus.”
Due to confidentiality protocols, the doctor also does not know the number of cases in his hospital. “This is a silent virus, it’s not like when you hit a lot of sick people. You just see the staff disappear, they isolate themselves for a period of time and then they come back,” he explained.
After testing negative, the doctor has now returned to work, caring for patients during this tumultuous period. And together with his colleagues, he will continue for as long as necessary.
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