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I’m a GP. Weeks ago I had a fever, cough,sore throat. I had to get swabbed, the whole thing. Isolated for results and recovery. Negative. Now I wear a mask for all patient contact. Sources & paid for them myself. I am shamed for it, I want to explain. https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-09/coronavirus-doctors-trauma-as-ppe-equipment-sharing-re-use/12136692?pfmredir=sm
1/15
1/15
It’s not for me, it’s for those around . I am afraid for myself sure but fingers crossed I’m only at mildly increased risk. What I’m afraid of is killing someone, someone I love, someone I take care of, someone who my entire goal has been to heal. That I couldn’t live with. 2/15
I spent a great deal of my time, waiting for my swab results, wondering if I had given my 94 year old patient this terrible virus. I know their chances are slim at best should they get it. And they are one of many I had seen in the days prior to getting symptoms 3/15
How many others had I seen in my little office, comforted during mental health consults, examined, and possibly infected? Elderly, vulnerable people, babies, kids, pregnant women, people who live with vulnerable family. I see them all. Had I given it to them? 4/15
Had I passed the virus to my colleagues, our receptionists, our nurse, our doctors? And subsequently to their patients, those that come in for blood tests, their families and anyone they come in contact with? 5/15
Had I passed it to my local shopping centre when I’d popped in for milk, people at the petrol station as I fueled up, anyone else I could have come in contact with? Despite hand washing, I’m potentially breathing out virus with every breath. 6/15
Had I passed the virus onto my husband and kids? Would I be fine but live to see one of them on a ventilator, or worse, not be able to be there for them in that illness and like some parents overseas, lose my child & not even be allowed to there with them when they die. 7/15
Some may consider these thoughts catastrophising but these are the realities that health professionals are facing across the world right now. These are some of our fears. We are discussing whether we would want to be intubated. We are writing wills. Many of us are afraid. 8/15
We fear killing those we serve and care for. 9/15 https://www.thedailybeast.com/terrified-doctors-sound-alarm-on-coronavirus-chaos-nationwide
We fear being forced to help save lives without proper Personnel protective equipment PPE, an utter disregard for our health and safety, and that of those around us!
10/15 https://www.google.com/amp/amp.abc.net.au/article/12115746
10/15 https://www.google.com/amp/amp.abc.net.au/article/12115746
We fear being sent into this completely unprepared and unsupported. 11/15
We fear burying more of our colleagues 12/15
We fear bringing this terrible virus to our families 13/ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/25/doctors-coronavirus-pandemic-stories
We fear loss of our children while people claim that kids are fine with this deadly virus. 14/15
My fears are those of healthcare workers worldwide!
We are here, we are fighting for our patients, we care, we are affected by every loss & we will fight this!
But we need help, because our fears are real, we are sick and dying around the world!
I’ll wear my mask!
We need PPE!
15
We are here, we are fighting for our patients, we care, we are affected by every loss & we will fight this!
But we need help, because our fears are real, we are sick and dying around the world!
I’ll wear my mask!
We need PPE!
15
