I’ve seen heroes in war zones & NHS staff fighting coronavirus are just as brave, says Ross Kemp as he backs Sun appeal
OVER the past couple of decades, I have covered conflicts around the world.
But this latest battle-ground was like nothing I have ever seen before.
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In intensive care units around the country, doctors and nurses are fighting an entirely new enemy that no one has ever faced before.
We have heard Government ministers describe the coronavirus crisis in militaristic terms.
And having now seen for myself what an NHS intensive care unit is going through, I can tell you, that language is absolutely fitting.
Last week, I was invited by the NHS and Milton Keynes University Hospital with my small team to highlight their tireless work on the frontline and allow them to tell us, the public, what we can do to try to stop the spread of this deadly virus.
The documentary is called Ross Kemp: On The NHS Frontline, because that is the only the way to describe the position that they are in right now.
There, in the ICU, I saw people from all walks of life, of all ages, who were desperately fighting Covid-19, being treated by incredibly professional staff who are, let’s be clear, risking their lives while giving all their patients the most astonishing love and care.
“It is young people we are seeing on the intensive care unit. It’s not that you have to be ill or you have to be old.
“Young people are suffering with no history of illness.”
Myself and a cameraman were permitted into the ICU for just under 30 minutes where we were fitted with PPE.
The equipment we wore was replaced with our own stock so that we were not a drain on the hospital’s resources.
Safety for the staff, patients and everyone at the hospital is absolutely paramount.
While at all times we worked with NHS staff to respect and protect the privacy of patients, a retired military police officer, Paul Breeze, asked us to film him receiving treatment, something I found incredibly brave.
Alcohol-related admissions have dropped since the pubs and bars have closed under lockdown.
But they are worried that people who do need urgent treatment might be putting off coming in.
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The reason for making this documentary is to show the selfless work being done by our NHS, along with their dedication and the love they show to their patients.
But perhaps, even more importantly, it is for us to give them the opportunity to tell the public how we can help them beat this deadly virus.
The professionalism, the care and the love that I witnessed at Milton Keynes is why I am backing The Sun’s Who Cares Wins appeal to raise money for frontline NHS workers during this terrible time.
- Ross Kemp: On The NHS Frontline is on ITV tomorrow night at 8.30pm
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