Healthcare staff are heroes of the hour

CORONAVIRUS is putting an unprecedented strain on our already overstretched NHS. Over the past few days, hospital staff have been preparing for an influx of deeply unwell patients struck down with the disease.

Staff working in acute care have been undergoing specific Covid-19 training, while steps are being taken to double capacity in areas such as intensive care.

Operating theatres, recovery rooms and even wards in private hospitals are being transformed into makeshift critical care units to ensure there are enough beds for those who need them.

Non-urgent appointments and procedures have already been suspended so resources can be prioritised for coronavirus patients.

And letters have been sent out to retired doctors and nurses in Wales and England asking them to return to the health service to boost numbers on the frontline.

But there are concerns the Welsh and UK governments are not doing enough to prevent the virus’ spread or manage the mounting pressure on the NHS.

A group of 50 healthcare workers in Wales have issued an urgent appeal which warns that there is lack of protection for NHS staff from contracting Covid-19. They also say there remains a “dangerous” shortage of ventilators in Welsh hospitals to help those patients who suffer severe breathing difficulties.

Sadly, the virus has already claimed the lives of three people in Wales, all of whom already had underlying health problems. And as First Minister Mark Drakeford said earlier this week, it’s almost a certainty that there will be more deaths in the coming days, weeks and months.

During this extraordinary time, there are few people more deserving of praise than those working tirelessly in our hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare settings. Every day these workers are risking their own health to look after others, often in very challenging circumstances.

These staff deserve our utmost respect, and the authorities should be doing all they can to give them the resources required to tackle this outbreak effectively.

As as a nation, the best way we can show our gratitude is by following current guidance to the letter on social distancing, thorough hand-washing and isolation should we develop symptoms.

And by looking after one another in our communities, it will ease the burden on our treasured NHS personnel.