Intensive care nurse ‘took fatal overdose at hospital’

A NURSE at a hospital treating coronavirus patients is thought to have taken her own life at work.

The woman – who was said to have been in her 20s – is understood to have been working in an intensive care unit (ICU) at King’s College Hospital, where eight coronavirus patients have died.

She was found unresponsive at the south London hospital on Monday. She is believed to have taken an overdose.

ICUs are used to look after people with serious and life-threatening conditions, including those on life support. Coronavirus patients needing ICU will be among the most sick and require constant monitoring.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: ‘Police were called at 5.36pm on Monday, March 23, to a south London hospital after a woman was found unresponsive.

‘Officers attended. The woman was treated and later died in hospital.

‘Police are in the process of identifying next of kin to inform them. The death is not being treated as suspicious.’ A King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust spokesman said: ‘A member of staff was found unresponsive at the hospital [on Monday].

‘Despite the best efforts of the medical team, they sadly died. We are offering support to their family at this difficult time and would ask that their privacy is respected.

‘No further comment will be provided.’

The Samaritans have a free helpline for those needing support on 116 123. Further information is available at www. samaritans.org