LABOURING to breathe, Alan Jackson has just spent his first night in hospital having been brought by ambulance the night before. The 61-year-old is shocked to find himself in the SATA ward and, while other patients are too unwell to be approached, Alan wants his case to stand as a warning to others. He had no symptoms so was surprised to be contacted by Test and Protect and even more surprised when a test came back positive. Tuesday was his tenth day of isolation and he expected to be back to normal. Instead, his condition deteriorated and his worried sister-in-law told him to phone the emergency services.
Others on the ward are too unwell to be interviewed but Alan is determined to speak out. He added: It makes you realise that this virus doesn t take any prisoners. No matter how strong you are or what age you are. It will just go for you. If it can find a way in it will go for you. And people have to start taking it seriously. The 30 bedded unit is usually full and, despite the physical and emotional pressures on staff, the ward feels calm and under control. SATA is a sea of blue scrubs and blue masks but here and there are bright pops of colour from knitted mask extenders that members of the public donated during last year s wave of support for the NHS.