A TEARFUL nurse who has been ‘zipping up body bags’ has begged the public to follow lockdown rules as hospitals become increasingly overwhelmed.
Nurse Ameera Sheikh says she has been forced to see a huge amount of death during the COVID-19 pandemic, as she begs the public to follow the rules.
Ameera, 28, has spoken out about having to zip up the body bag of her fourth patient in only two days.
She said: “Each day is as bad as the next. Some days it’s so intense. You feel so sick inside that you can’t even bring yourself to drink a glass of water.
“Please don’t break the rules. I have worked overseas in less developed countries where they don’t have the resources like we do and what is going on right now reminds me of those experiences.”
The nurse spoke about the working conditions in hospitals currently, saying that medical workers are on their feet for 13 to 14 hours per day, running around treating patients.
“I don’t sleep anymore because the nightmares are too much,” she told The Mirror.
Ameera, who has worked for the NHS for 12 years, has stressed the importance of following government advice on staying home and following the rules.
She said: “As healthcare workers we have to suspend judgement. Some people are very lucky not to have experienced Covid.
“They need to realise the world doesn’t revolve around them. Other people are living in this world too and many have died because people chose not to wear a mask or wanted to hang out with their pals.”
In the UK yesterday, the overall Covid death toll hit 80,000 with a further 1,035 dying as the country saw the deadliest Saturday since the first wave in April 2019.
The new variant, currently sweeping the country, saw 59,937 testing positive for the virus as the government’s SAGE scientific advisers have predicted that 150,000 people are getting infected everyday.
The dangers of not following the rules has been seen as the nurse has said that some Covid positive patients have admitted to flouting laws but seem apologetic.
Whilst others who are displaying symptoms, have denied the existence of the virus completely.
The 28-year-old said: “When will they realise what’s really going on? Will it be when they lose someone they love? We can have a day where patients are dying all day long and you are having to quickly wash them and zip up a body bag.
“None of the people from anti-lockdown groups will ever zip up a body bag in their lives.”
The strain on the NHS has been seen with Professor Chris Whitty warning the NHS could be overwhelmed in just three weeks if Brits don’t follow lockdown rules.
Writing in the Sunday Times, the Chief Medical Officer said emergency patients could be turned away from hospitals as the nation faces its “most serious moment” yet in the battle against coronavirus.
Whitty’s plea comes amid warnings from experts that current lockdown restrictions are “too lax” – and could fail to bring down the rate of infection if Brits ignore “stay at home” orders.
Ameer’s sentiments echo the facts, as she told of hospitals having to play ‘’musical beds’’, when moving patients from one hospital to another, in order to create space.
She concluded: “We are opening new intensive care units and new Covid wards, but with what staff? A lot of staff handed in their resignations after the first wave. Nurses are looking after three or even four patients each in ICU.
“There are some hospitals who have the odd negative patient amongst a bay of positive cases because they’ve run out of side rooms.”
