NHS Workers Create Powerful Video Pleading With People To Stay At Home

Before Boris Johnson announced stricter measures to enforce coronavirus self isolation yesterday, telling people they must stay at home or face fines, the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust released a powerful video explaining just how vital doing so is when it comes to saving lives.

The video shows a team of NHS respiratory doctors, nurses and physios who had used their own down time to film the important message in the Northern Irish city's Mater Hospital - and it's such an important watch.

These heroic staff are on the frontline, fighting to save lives as the coronavirus pandemic worsens in the UK, and yet people were still out and about unnecessarily over the weekend.

Some of the messages in the powerful clip will no doubt help hit home the dire situation the UK is in, and just how desperately the NHS is depending on all of us to stay at home and help limit COVID-19 spreading.

In the clip, all the NHS workers stood forward one-by-one and enforced why not leaving the house was so essential.

One message in the video said: "Im Angela, one of the respiratory consultants. This is a crucial time. This is not a rehearsal. You will only have one chance at this. Stay at home."

Belfast Health and Social Care Trust)

Another added: "I'm Claire. I'm a respiratory nurse. You can play your part to enable us to play ours. Stay at home."

The next chimed in: "I'm Julian a respiratory consultant. We all have a choice. If you choose to stay at home, you will save lives. Please, stay at home."

Another begged: "I'm Susie, a respiratory consultant. I have been a doctor for 35 years we are facing our greatest challenge and we're frightened. Help us, please stay at home."

The next added: "I'm Ann-Marie, a respiratory nurse consultant. Thousand of people could die here. Help us reduce that number, play your part, save a life, stay at home."

Belfast Health and Social Care Trust)

The video wrapped up with: "My name is Thelma. I am a respiratory consultant. You've heard my colleagues, this is a crisis, please stay at home, we beg you."

Yesterday, the prime minister announced that the British public should only be leaving the house for essential food supplies, exercising alone - or, with members of their household only - medical appointments or travelling to and from work (essential workers only).

Boris Johnson emphasised that those who can be working at home, should be. Non-essential shops will now be closed, except food shops, pharmacies, petrol stations, vets, newsagents, banks and undertakers.

Gatherings of more than two people - except for those in the same household - have also been banned.

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This morning, London mayor Sadiq Khan reiterated the prime minister's message, tweeting: "LONDON: I cannot say this more strongly: we must stop all non-essential use of public transport now.

"Employers: please support your staff to work from home unless it's absolutely necessary. Ignoring these rules means more lives lost."

Our doctors and nurses in the NHS are asking us to play our part, and the least we can do is help them by staying put whilst they face the battle with COVID-19 head on.

As the death toll in the UK reaches 335 and confirmed cases have climbed to 6,650 we all need to pull together and do our bit to isolate.

Thank you, NHS.

Topics: Coronavirus, NHS, Health

Lauren Bell

A freelance journalist at Tyla with an interest in health and fitness, travel and lifestyle topics, as well as highlighting issues for women. She graduated from the University of Sheffield in 2011 with a BA Honours Journalism degree and ever since has written for various platforms, including Mail Online, The Sun, that's life magazine and b-inspired magazine.

@lbell4