The doctor…

Medic reveals challenges of role on coronavirus ward — but says she is ‘trying to keep Shabbat’

A JEWISH doctor has described how she is “still trying to keep Shabbat going” despite her role on the NHS front line amid the coronavirus epidemic.

Dr Rebecca Joseph

(pictured), whose work includes staffing a dedicated Covid-19 ward in Watford General Hospital, told the JC that even though she and her colleagues face challenges, morale was still high and there was a camaraderie between doctors.

“I think the mood in hospital is actually quite good,” she said.

“We still have that support network in person where you can see your colleagues.”

Dr Joseph added that one of her Jewish flatmates was also a doctor and they are “still trying to keep Shabbat going” with Friday night meals together and kosher wine from their parents. Speaking about her role, she added: “We are getting so much support from nonNHS staff. We get lots of free food to the hospital, which is really nice. “And it does help to keep morale up. I know that free food doesn’t sound like it would, but it definitely does.”

Support has come from some surprising quarters.

When her mother phoned their local supermarket over a concern that her daughter and other doctors would not be able to get their hands on supplies in between shifts, the person who took the call volunteered to gather some food for them and paid for it himself.

Describing working on a Covid-19 ward, which was established last week and is now one of six in the hospital, she said patients vary from some which “require a lot of oxygen” to those who “seem very well”, but can’t go home.

As there are too many coronavirus patients to isolate everyone, she said, they are now being held in dedicated open bays.

She said there was a risk of a patient with another condition catching coronavirus whilst being held in those bays, but hastened to add: “When any patient goes into hospital, there’s always a risk of getting an infection, which is why we try and get patients out as quickly as possible.

“That’s a risk of anyone coming into hospital, as in families, relatives, professionals, anyone.

“Relatives can’t come to visit in those bays, and in the rest of the hospital they can only come for 30 minutes.”

She also said the national guidance on what personal protective equipment to wear keeps changing but that staff were being “well-supported otherwise”.

Dr Joseph said it was a “big shame” she would not be able to join in with Pesach as she would not be able to be with her family, but that “we’re going to postpone it till summer”.