Patient describes scene like a 'horror film' as her ward was evacuated
Mother with life-threatening kidney failure says her hospital ward turned into ‘horror scene’ as it was evacuated by nurses who were told there were NO MASKS or protective gear – after patient tested positive for Covid-19
- Lisa Hicks, 42, from Basildon, suffers from life-threatening lupus nephritis stage 4/5 kidney failure
- The mother-of-four was sent home with antibiotics and told to only call 111 if things got ‘really bad’
- She was sharing a ward with a patient who tested positive with coronavirus
- She watched as nurses were forced to clean the ward without masks
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
A hospital patient whose ward was evacuated after the woman in the bed opposite her tested positive for Covid-19 has described the moment as like a scene from ‘a horror film’.
Lisa Hicks, from Basildon, Essex, claims staff ripped off unit curtains around her, and started cleaning walls and windows without wearing masks or protective clothing at Basildon Hospital on Monday.
The 42-year-old mother-of-four, who suffers from life-threatening lupus nephritis stage 4/5 kidney failure, said she was sent home with antibiotics and steroids and told to only call 111 if ‘things get really bad’.
Lisa Hicks, from Basildon, Essex, seen with partner David Bennett, whose ward was evacuated after the woman in the bed opposite her tested positive for Covid-19 has described the moment as like a scene from ‘a horror film’
Miss Hicks said: ‘You could sense the nurses’ fear when they were asking for masks and being told there are none.
‘These nurses and doctors need help they have far too much to deal with. I am someone who is in and out of hospital a lot, so I have nothing but the utmost respect for our NHS.
‘But all the staff are struggling. They do not even have the basics to keep themselves and those they took an oath to look after safe. It is heartbreaking.
‘I can not stress enough the care I got was to the best of their ability and I know their hands were tied but their own lives are truly at risk.’
Lisa, seen with her three daughters Chantelle Kharis and Rosslyn, claims staff ripped off unit curtains around her, and started cleaning walls and windows without wearing masks or protective clothing at Basildon Hospital on Monday
The 42-year-old mother-of-four, who suffers from life-threatening lupus nephritis stage 4/5 kidney failure, said she was sent home with antibiotics and steroids and told to only call 111 if ‘things get really bad’. She is seen after her hospital stay
It comes as NHS England figures released Tuesday show Basildon Hospital has recorded 17 Covid-19-related deaths, with the first occurring on Saturday, March 13.
Miss Hicks was admitted to hospital on Saturday 28th March after her autoimmune disease lupus erythematosus (SLE) took a turn for the worse and her blood pressure dropped dangerously low.
She said initially her stay was positive, and the staff were keen for the coronavirus not to be discussed to keep patient morale high.
However, on Sunday night, she watched as the patient in the bed opposite her started crying out in pain.
Miss Hicks, seen previously with her late son Micky, was admitted to hospital on Saturday 28th March after her autoimmune disease lupus erythematosus (SLE) took a turn for the worse and her blood pressure dropped dangerously low
Miss Hicks said: ‘Before she tested positive, the lady was up all night crying. She could not breathe and kept saying she was dying and wanted to see her children.
‘The beautiful nurses sat with her, holding her and cuddling her – not knowing she had Covid-19 and then they went home to their families.’
Miss Hicks said within an hour of the patient testing positive on Monday, she was rushed home and told to stay away from the hospital.
She said: ‘Everything happened so quickly. I just felt frightened and wanted to be out of there even though I felt so ill.
‘It turned crazy and scary fast. We were all literally kicked out of the hospital and sent home after the lady opposite us tested positive for Covid-19.
Lisa, seen with her partner, said initially her stay was positive, and the staff were keen for the coronavirus not to be discussed to keep patient morale high
Lisa, seen with one of her daughters, now fears she too could have Covid-19, after sharing toilet facilities with the patients on her ward
‘The day we were told to leave the hospital was like something out of a horror movie. Those poor doctors and nurses are so ill equipped. They didn’t even have masks or basic things.’
Miss Hicks now fears she too could have Covid-19, after sharing toilet facilities with the patients on her ward.
She is now in self-isolation in her spare room, but is feeling afraid as questions about her complex disease remain unanswered after she was evacuated from hospital, without her seeing a crucial specialist or renal doctor.
She is fearing for her life as her illness continues to attack her organs, her kidneys, her lungs and her heart.
Lisa, with her daughter, is now calling for the government to ‘step up’ in its fight against the coronavirus
Miss Hicks is now calling for the government to ‘step up’ in its fight against the coronavirus.
She said: ‘I also think more training and cleaning needs to happen at the hospitals. They are doing a great job but they need more help, they have far too much to deal with.
‘They have so much on their hands; not just doing the job of being a nurse, they are also doing the food, the cleaning and running around. It’s madness!’
Keen to thank her specialist doctor who has saved her life twice, Lisa said she has nothing but positive words for the NHS but admits she is in fear for them.
She added: ‘I am extremely high risk after I had my last round of chemo in February for lupus. I know I’m in that category that would not have much chance of pulling through if I caught the virus.
‘Sadly I got very very sick – it’s now hard, scary and a time of nightmares.’
Basildon Hospital has been approached for comment.
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