A man who has survived his battle with Covid-19 has shared his story with the Manx Independent and praised the treatment he received from the health service.
Martin Hall, who lives in Onchan, retired as director of environment at the Department of the Environment, Food and Agriculture in 2014 and has a masters degree in public health. We are printing his account of his treatment in full here.
Professional, dedicated, selfless, caring, compassionate, non-judgmental, brave, heroes, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, grannies, grandads.
A few words that describe the NHS staff I have met on my Covid-19 journey yet I am struggling to express how special these wonderful people are.
Although I will mention some by name it is only because they are the ones that I interacted with most during my journey. A journey that began with a call to Village Walk Health Centre to say I was unwell with Covid symptoms. My GPs (Dr Chandra and Dr Wilson) kept in regular contact with me via phone, giving advice and reassurance.
On the day my test came back (a week after first symptoms) my health took a significant downturn with my breathing becoming very laboured. The GP was fabulous arranging for me to be transferred to the Covid Assessment Unit (CATU) at Noble’s Hospital.
Two lovely ladies in full PPE (personal protection equipment) turned up with an ambulance and stabilised me on oxygen before delivering me to CATU. I have to say their professional yet reassuring approach was very comforting. In CATU I was looked after by the lovely Nicole, yes named after the Renault Clio advert (Papa-Nicole) and Jason who was a paramedic helping on his days off.
The two ladies from x-ray, looking like little Daleks with a mind control ray in their PPE with their portable x-ray equipment, did make me smile. Jason and Nicole then transferred me through locked down corridors to Ward 1.
I have to say Jason who was driving, managed to hit numerous walls, doors and a wheelchair, so much so that Nicole bet him she would do a better job on the way back. I don’t know the results.
On my own in an isolation ward I became quite ill and was on full oxygen, very weak and couldn’t eat anything. In fact at one point I believe the consultants and doctors were considering transferring me to a ventilator in ITU.
Fortunately I started to improve without this intervention. Even though hazy in parts my care during this critical time was second to none. The nursing staff in full PPE were constantly reassuring and apologising for the scary look they were acutely aware of, or when they perceived the masks were hiding the human touch.
This wasn’t the case as their caring nature shone through.
Despite the risks to themselves they did more than just nurse me, they took time to chat and treat me with utmost respect kindness and care at all times.
My main carers were Lesley, Vicki, Suzy, Tracey and Jonathan.
The consultants and doctors were professional and approachable answering all my questions (when I was able to ask them).
There were numerous others I met who worked behind the scenes who also have my thanks and admiration.
The turning point for me came on March 30, which happened to be my 64th birthday and when there were signs I was improving.
At first I dared not believe it as this disease can turn around and bite you when you think you are getting better.
After that, recovery was rapid with my appetite returning and I was taken off oxygen the day after my birthday and before being discharged the day after that, a week after my admission. I have a way to go to full recovery as my lungs have been damaged but will get better in time.
My joy and thankfulness for surviving this awful disease was tinged by the sad news that one of the patients in Noble’s had lost their fight against Covid-19 on the same day I was discharged and my thoughts and prayers are with their family at this sad time.
During my journey my belief in people has been strengthened not only by my experience with NHS staff but by the amount of good wishes and prayers I received from family and friends.
Overall my respect for all these wonderful people who look after us in our darkest hours knows no boundary.
I am aware all NHS leave has been cancelled and this is causing some staff significant financial worries as they incur extra childcare charges.
I do hope the Isle of Man Government have a sympathetic approach to this to ensure our greatest national asset doesn’t suffer as a result of their dedication.
I would like to finish my story by simply saying thank you to everyone who was part of my story - no our story.
To the NHS staff, I know you will be part of too many other stories but without you some of these may not have a happy ending as mine did.
To the public, stay at home, obey the rules protect others and stay safe.
This disease is really nasty and potentially lethal and doesn’t care what sex, age, colour or religion you are.