While out walking our dog in a local country house estate, we stopped at a coffee shop, and found ourselves talking to another dog owner who came over to us to chat about our dog. He had a dog with him which belonged to a friend of his who lost her husband to Covid when, as an ambulance paramedic, he wasn't given adequate PPE to keep him safe. I'd heard about this on the news, but never met anyone personally who had gone through the experience.
The Covid-19 toll
While the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a significant toll on many individuals, including frontline workers like paramedics, doctors and nurses who selflessly risked their lives to save others, the lack of adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) meant they were unable to carry out their jobs fully protected. It has been a major concern in the pandemic, highlighted by UK doctors trade union body, the British Medical Association ("BMA") on numerous occasions.
Although society has moved on from thinking about Covid, it is essential to recognise and remember the sacrifices made by frontline workers, those workers belonged to someone. It is important not to forgot the lives that were lost. People died needlessly to a lack of sufficient PPE, which would have otherwise kept them safe. I remember reading about a shop-worker with cerebral palsy who lost her life to Covid while serving in the shop – PPE would have saved her too. I'd read and heard so many stories through the media, it was surreal hearing it from someone I'd never met before.
A Government's job is to protect, to care
As a general thought, it would have been important for any sitting government to do all they could to ensure protection for as long as that was needed. It is important there is still help for the vulnerable so they can co-exist. In Covid – front line workers to do their jobs effectively and safely, needed to have the right equipment and the necessary support from Governments. This story I am recalling, was far too common and now Covid has become a mere inconvenience.
It is hard for the high risk and vulnerable to get back into their lives. Four-years in and Covid is reduced, but it is still difficult to do normal things. Mental health is relying on us living something resembling a 'normal life'.
While this man was telling us about his friend, we also met the paramedic’s widow. This is a story I will continue to carry because I care. If they were struggling to come to terms with their loss, they bore their grief well and with dignity.
