who startin ight with the special report
illustrating the range of challenges
faced by NHS staff in the struggle
against coronavirus now during the day
ministers have again promised that
they're addressing the shortage of
protective equipment and the
government's deputy chief scientific
adviser said that the number of new
infections across the UK was pretty much
stable and flat the Prime Minister has
expressed caution about relaxing the
lockdown too soon because he fears it
could lead to a second peak now the
latest figures for the UK show there
were 449 deaths reported in the last 24
hour period that reflects a steady fall
over the past few days the official
number of deaths in the UK linked to
coronavirus is sixteen thousand five
hundred and nine but that number does
not include deaths in care homes or in
the community in England or in Northern
Ireland we start tonight with this
extended report from inside the
university hospital in Whishaw which is
managed by NHS Lanica on the pressures
of dealing with coronavirus patients
from the very young to the elderly the
report is by our special correspondent
ed Thomas producer no leverage and
cameraman Phil Edwards look beyond the
daily statistics these are the lives
changed forever that's you completely
breathing on your own
that's another hockey one I'm seeing the
fun I'm seeing my family
from those trying to save the sickest
roof hit 60 dates which has taught way
forward the staff today it's probably
the most amount of dates and one chef
that we've had so far to the eldest most
vulnerable and the youngest the last
thing you might hear when you pick up
the phone is a baby killer virus
hospital life is being transformed
normally it's all fill appearance all
day all night so it's difficult mums and
dads of babies kept in for observation
can only visit for an hour a day what
was it like being away from your baby
for 15 months but these babies are never
alone receiving constant care what of
the nurses and doctors been like here
honest to god there's been a sheet it is
ever made all of your lanolin but to
contain the virus the maternity ward is
now divided no one fellow dead Easter
isolate coronavirus right there yep
Peyton is three weeks old and has the
virus
she's always watched over they feel
privileged to have such a great team
behind her chin Medellin mmm she's happy
but Owen when you got your phone calls
in your baby's got colon ovalis that's
the rest thing I can only imagine I mean
it just need to pass through and she
made the best care we can give it that's
horrible time Tracey has now taken the
decision to isolate with her baby
obviously staff they know I'd absolutely
ask in their life bill looking after her
and let's not forget that as cute in
beautifully she has she's tasty Porter
saw the staff that at hand on her
the a dry put no risk
Consultants now triage patients arriving
it's alien what we're doing the funder
is in splitting patients if they're
possible Kofi coming in one entrance
we've kind of split them from the start
it's separate paths throughout the
hospital suspected cop in 1900 seemed
quick week after week Lin has been in
and out of homes working as a carer in
just weeks
the hospital's created three specialist
wards the coronavirus patients
terrifying terrify and debtor to the
nurses and the doctors tested them all
without that their working environment
as they've never worked in before and to
get as also getting this is unbelievable
and it's here the ICU where staff face
the greatest uncertainties all for a
woman to see the least in the staff felt
completely over film some patients
spending up to three weeks in you had in
fact a family because you're the only
person that see if it's better than them
so the staff was spending it really
difficult that but if twenty Pilar dying
at the time we were there was no
reprieve unfortunately with its it's
three dates in which was totally for
discuss today in just weeks this
intensive care unit is quadrupled
capacity you think we're getting to
grips with us and then you get another
or in slaughter admissions again so
every day you think today will be a bit
of d the bit of d never ever comes the
concern for Andrea is how long they can
keep going safely party supporting more
than the normal working average mom in
body is the ward manager is that how
long can subsist in that there's going
to come a point with the staff when you
have run their self out but this is what
sustains them after 12 days in intensive
care
guy Heath he's getting stronger
have you ever felt like this before ever
[Applause]
and every Thursday our country echoes to
the sound of planks thanks to the
physiotherapists working 12 hour nursing
shifts in intensive care
the nurse living apart to protect a
three-year-old daughter breathing
completely on your own now
so Kenny can finally breathe unaided and
guy can once again see his family the
reality of dealing with coronavirus with
all ages affected that special report
from wish overs by our special
correspondent Edie
Thomas