Coronavirus: ‘Tired and traumatised’ frontline health staff ‘can’t go on like this’ warns NI Health Minister Robin Swann

Health Minister Robin Swann has warned that “exhausted and traumatised” frontline health staff “can’t go on like this” in face of the extreme pressures posed by coronavirus.
By Niall Deeney
Published 3rd Feb 2021, 17:45 BST
Updated 3rd Feb 2021, 18:00 BST
Sister Liz Moore of the Belfast Trust during a press conference in Parliament Buildings, Stormont this afternoonSister Liz Moore of the Belfast Trust during a press conference in Parliament Buildings, Stormont this afternoon
Sister Liz Moore of the Belfast Trust during a press conference in Parliament Buildings, Stormont this afternoon

Speaking at a Stormont press conference this afternoon, the minister appeared alongside Liz Moore, a ward sister in the Belfast Trust who gave a first-hand account of the pressures faced by staff.

Mr Swann said: “Our health service has suffered many hammer blows over the past year but it’s still standing.

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“It’s still caring, and as well as dealing with the latest Covid surge it is rolling out an unprecedented vaccine programme.

“Daily, I am in awe of the commitment and the expertise demonstrated day in and day out by the staff in our health and social care service and the wider health family.

“They are exhausted and they are traumatised by what they have been through.”

The minister continued: “But their determination, dedication, professionalism and commitment should be an example to us all.

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“And we owe it to them to do all that we can to stop Covid-19 spreading. Infection numbers have come down but they are still too high.

“We must push them down further and keepthem down. We must continue to work so that our health service and its staff get the breathing space they need because they can’t continue to go on like this.”

Liz Moore, a ward sister in the post-intensive care Covid step-down ward in the Belfast City Hospital, said: “We have been caring for Covid patients since last April.

“The patients coming out of intensive care are very sick and in many cases are unable to do anything for themselves – simple things like eating, swallowing, drinking, walking, talking.

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“The patients’ ages range from 35 onwards up towards 80 but most of our patients, to be honest, have been in their 40s, 50s and 60s. And some of these patients had no underlying medical conditions.

“Some of the patients have spent a long time in intensive care and they are so frail and ill when they come to the ward.”

She added: “The patients during this time only see us in our PPE, our masks and visors etc. Our staff are still facing challenges daily.

“We are tired but we are determined to keep going and provide care for all our patients.”

Related topics:Robin SwannPPE