Doctor feared a ‘tsunami’ of cases
A New Zealand doctor says he thought Covid-19 would create something like a ‘‘war zone’’ after seeing footage from hospitals in Italy.
Dr Nathan Kershaw, a consultant anaesthetist, described waiting for the virus to hit as like an ‘‘oncoming tsunami’’ for Kiwi health workers.
During a frank interview to mark the relaunch of Mobile Health’s surgical bus, which was halted because of the lockdown restrictions, Kershaw said recent weeks were an emotional rollercoaster for medical staff.
‘‘Essentially all elective surgery was canned and I think pretty much every DHB [district health board] decided to do that to get ready for what looked like an oncoming tsunami,’’ he said.
‘‘We were terrified in health because we’d heard the stories of colleagues in Italy. It felt like war was coming and no-one was listening to us.
‘‘Pretty much every doctor was listening to those Twitter feeds and [hearing] the stories.’’
Kershaw was in Rangiora yesterday as part of the mobile medical team carrying out elective day surgeries in the town.
He said the week before the nationwide lockdown began was ‘‘the most stressed and anxious’’ he had ever witnessed anyone working in New Zealand health.
‘‘We could see this coming to all our friends and colleagues, that they’re all going to have post-traumatic stress disorder, dealing with this impossible situation,’’ he said.
‘‘When everyone finally started listening to us and the prime minister did, I think we all fell in love with her.’’
He said it was important people remained compliant with the alert level three rules to prevent the virus from spreading.
‘‘If we get rid of this, we are going to be sweet here in New Zealand. If we don’t get rid of it, it’s not going to be a fun ride for the next couple of years.’’