Fazilah, an intensive care unit (ICU) nurse at a central London hospital, told CNN that during the first wave of the pandemic, she was plagued by a wave of depression for months, but was too busy saving the lives of other people to be able to identify or prosecute you. Now she is working on another nightmare.
ICU nurses working for the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) are bearing the brunt of this increase. Several ICU employees that CNN spoke to say they were pressured to “dilute” the level of care because of peak admissions and, in some cases, say they are treating up to eight patients at a time – far more than the NHS recommends a “safe” ratio of ICU nurse to patient from 1: 1 to 1: 2.
Although the NHS did not respond to CNN’s request for comment, NHS Chief Executive Simon Stevens told the BBC on Sunday that the ratio of nurses to patients varied between hospitals from 1: 1 to 1: 2 to 1: 3 , and that the team is making “dynamic adjustments in real time.”
It is a situation that not only risks jeopardizing the level of care for the sick, but also increases the stress and well-being of the healthcare professionals who provide it, said Ameera Sheikh, an ICU nurse and Unite union representative at a London hospital. . CNN. Even on days off, it is almost impossible to disconnect. “The blame comes on suddenly because you are not helping,” she said.
And when a patient dies, there is usually little time to mourn before the next patient arrives. “It’s like you’re on a constant merry-go-round and can’t get out,” said Fazilah.
YOU ASKED. WE RESPOND
Q: How do I know if my age group is eligible for vaccination against Covid-19 in the USA?
AN: First, call your primary care doctor. They can confirm what stage you are in – definitions can change from state to state – and give you an idea of when vaccinations should start in your local community’s health and hospital systems.
Then, check the Covid-19 vaccination page on your state’s health department website. Most have links to county-level appointment sites, where you can sign up, and emails to which you can direct questions.
WHAT’S IMPORTANT TODAY
China is responding to criticism of its vaccines with a dangerous disinformation campaign
For example, the state tabloid Global Times led the defense of vaccines produced in China, not establishing their effectiveness, but trying to destroy the reputation of other candidates – particularly those produced by the American company Pfizer.
Trump removes some travel restrictions for U.S. Covid-19, although Biden is against the order
The Biden government has promised to block the change, due to concerns about “more contagious variants emerging worldwide,” Biden’s new press secretary, Jen Psaki, said on Twitter.
While new cases in the U.S. have been declining since they peaked last week, experts are asking Americans not to let their guard down.
Australian Open turmoil raises questions for Tokyo Olympics
ON OUR RADAR
- Biden and his administration promise to ensure that blacks and browns have equal access to the Covid-19 vaccine through mobile clinics, vaccination centers and partnerships with local communities.
- China and the World Health Organization could have acted more quickly and strongly to stem the onset of the coronavirus outbreak, an independent review panel said on Monday.
- Singapore Airlines hopes to become the first airline in the world to vaccinate all of its crew.
- If Kim Jong Un destroyed North Korea’s economy to keep Covid-19 out, will the sanctions be enough to stop him from pursuing nuclear weapons?
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TODAY’S PODCAST
“For the vast majority of Americans, the testing program being sold … is simply an illusion of public health.” – Dr. Michael Mina, assistant professor of Epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health TH Chan.