Covid-19 Lewisham patient describes ‘life changing’ ordeal

A Covid-19 patient has described in detail the physical deterioration he suffered after contracting the virus.

Noel Kirby, 62, was treated at Lewisham Hospital and has issued a warning to Londoners to take the virus seriously.

The architectural design manager, who had no underlying health conditions, was hospitalised on January 4 and described his experience as life-changing.

“Your own body kills you, but silently,” Mr Kirby said.

“Seeing a Covid ward from the inside is a very sobering and humbling experience, life changing in fact.

“An x-ray showed the five day deterioration for me as my airways were effectively filled with a thick mucus ‘glue-like cement’ – hence the breathing difficulty, breathlessness and gasping cough.

“In four and a half days my lungs turned white while I simply sat by a radiator, listened to an audio book and took precautionary antibiotics to ward off pneumonia, some Ibuprofen for inflammation and using my two inhalers – with ghastly night sweats throughout.

“If you had seen what I have seen and heard in hospital I think that you’d most likely change your mind quickly about the risk this virus presents to all of us, to our families, to our friends, to our communities, and critically to the NHS.

“I’ve seen people being told they are dying in front of me, and one of my ward pals had already seen two people pass in his previous ward – it is just so cruel.

“All everyone wanted was to just get back safely to their families – they all have so much life to offer, loving partners and children.

“Nothing can be hidden in the ward, we could hear each other’s conversations, and met each other’s families (virtually).

“Everyone in the Covid wards at Lewisham Hospital are currently in the virus’ embrace, whilst wide awake and mentally acutely active.

“I think we all thought of our situation rather as if we were in a World War 1 Casualty Clearing Station and simply needed to make room for the lads who have just been gassed on the front line.

“It’s their turn now to hopefully have a chance to survive this horror too.”

Mr Kirby urged Londoners to take the lockdown seriously to stop the spread as soon as possible.

He said: “Chin-up and stout heart will not cut-the-mustard on its own with Covid-19, I am afraid.

“That’s how bad things are. Rationed medical care, including oxygen, triaged mortality – but I’m so appreciative of the chance that I and my family have been given.

“There are so many misconceptions and so much ignorance and ‘chin-up optimism’ around Covid-19.

“The reality is that it’s a dangerous, complex disease, and my consultant doctor said last week that we are still 3 weeks from the peak in London.

“Most cases will be mild with the ‘Covid sniffles’ and young people (not all) will recover quite quickly – like our own son and daughter, but if it affects your lungs, you are looking at your own death. It is really that simple.”

In October 2012 the public joined forces with hospital workers, local political parties, councillors and trade unionists to form the Save Lewisham Hospital campaign, when the hospital was threatened by closure.

The campaign was a success and on October 29, 2013, three judges in the Court of Appeal found that the Government had acted unlawfully in trying to close down most of the services at Lewisham Hospital.

Mr Kirby added: “I am in awe of the medical and support staff at Lewisham Hospital and cannot believe how sanguine the team are about the public’s behaviours during this lockdown.

“In 2013 we marched as a community to save Lewisham Hospital when it was threatened with closure and now our wonderful Lewisham Hospital is saving us.”