COVID-19

In recent weeks, the ITV drama Breathtaking has represented an important step forward in public discourse around the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s important as a moment for national reflection.

Over the past month the landscape of healthcare has dramatically changed as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic. All acute trusts, primary care organisations and social services have had to remodel their working patterns in order to manage the rising number of patients with Covid-19.

In this video blog, Mike Nicholson, an Edinburgh-based writer and social researcher, tells some of the real life stories of those living and working in care homes during the pandemic.

Resy Manalo, Lalaine Lopez Pesario, Gilbert Barnedo, Elsie Sazuze, Suzanne Loverseed and Karen Hutton are some of the care home workers who lost their lives during the coronavirus pandemic.

With over 69 million reported cases of COVID-19 worldwide, we have all experienced rapid and dramatic changes to our healthcare services over the last 12 months. Older people have been disproportionately affected by a greater severity of disease and mortality, detrimental psychological, cognitive and physical outcomes from necessary social distancing, as well as age discrimination. 

Hurrah, the cavalry has appeared over the horizon! Whilst my hospital is well geared up for staff influenza vaccinations (something that I am proud to have been involved in instigating over 25 years ago), the COVID-19 vaccination programme requires a Herculean effort on behalf of the NHS and its staff, adding further strain on our already stretched services.