Hi, I want to share what happens in UK with COVID-19. So you can be informed before making any decision.
As we all know, the numbers of deaths and confirmed COVID-19 in UK are getting higher and higher. The numbers might not be even correct due to the fact that the test, so called swap, has been done mostly to people who have heavy symptoms such as high fever and shortness of breath. Even though you think that you are infected, you won’t be tested unless you are symptomatic.
While I was working in the hospital, I was exposed to a patient who is now confirmed COVID without any protection. But as long as I don’t have symptoms, I am still required to go to work, which means that I can be a virus carrier for other patients and my colleagues who might have vulnerable people at home.
Let’s say, a patient was unwell and came to an ward through A&E. With this process, the patient already contacted many people. He/She is of course staying in an open bay with others. The patient went for CT scan to check other problems and found out suspected COVID-19. With how many other patients the patient suspected of having COVID19 got in contact including nurses, doctors, porters? The patient was eventually tested and went into a side room to be isolated. The result of the test turned out that it’s COVID (after 48hrs waiting for the result while is only 6hrs in South Korea). Still no test for people who he/she came across with.
Another problem, what I got to protect myself as a nurse to look after COVID patient was only plastic sleeveless apron, gloves and mask which I needed to reuse all day long according to the guideline. PPE (personal protective equipment) that just using 3 equipments on an ward as long as a patient is not under aerosol-generating procedures such as intubation, tracheotomy, suctioning and so on, (B.N. nebulizer is aerosol-procedure), It is far poorer than WHO guideline. It is getting simply since the equipment is not enough. Feel like no one cares about nurses who contact the patients more than anyone else.
I used the simple equipments provided and washed my hands and arms thoroughly before coming out of the room. What about my sleeve and hair? and I also looked after other patients, talked to my colleagues and useed the same facilities in the place with the same uniform. Ok, thanks god I am young and healthy, No symptoms. But what about others?
I can’t complain because I am the one who decided to come here in London and work as a nurse. South Korea and UK are different countries with different infrastructure. But if I had known it, I may have made a different decision.
I really deeply hope the situation please get better. Well, it’s hardly to see though.
An International Couple and their Adventure 