It was just so heartbreaking.īrumWish 2021 aims to get thousands of Christmas gifts to young children in need across our city - the homeless, the vulnerable, kids in care and kids who have little. Some came in with no medical history and were fit and well. It was sad how many people were dying in such a short space of time. 'I remember the first time I came on the unit there was about nine with Covid and one man survived. We were rushing to get them on ventilators and more were coming in all the time. We had an influx of patients coming in who were very sick.

'It was very difficult, especially when it had just begun,' the 41-year-old told Black Country Live. Many of her colleagues have struggled with the impact of the Covid crisis and Miss Luyima admitted the horrors of the last 18 months had taken their toll.Īnd she acknowledged hospital workers faced another challenging few months during what is expected to be an extremely difficult winter for the NHS.Īround 1,300 people have died of Covid at Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, which runs Sandwell General and Birmingham City hospitals. READ MORE: 25,000 drivers fined for using Walsall bus gate - in just five months The mother-of-one recalled those early days at the start of 2020 as intensive care beds filled up and many patients didn't make it. A critical care nurse has spoken about the 'heartbreaking' early days of Covid as hospitals were overwhelmed by the deadly virus - and admitted the NHS faces more big challenges this winter.īernadette Luyima told how she was helpless as patients died around her in the intensive care unit at Sandwell Hospital.

Cutty nurse on soap tv show