A Scots nurse has penned a heartbreaking poem detailing what it is like to watch patients die from Covid-19.
Sarah Pirie wrote the touching note after helping a patient call their family to say their final goodbyes.
The 30-year-old staff nurse who works in a coronavirus unit at the Queen Elizabeth hospital in Glasgow was left distraught and wrote the poem as a way to express herself.
She said: “A patient took not well on my shift and went from being okay to deteriorating really quickly.
“I had to phone the family and try to give them an update and ask for them to come up to the hospital.
“But because of shielding and the hospital visiting policy no one could come and be with him, he had to phone them to say goodbye.
“They say that writing is good self therapy and just because I had a tough shift and couldn't really talk about it without crying about it.”
Sarah was left shocked by the response when she shared her work online as messages poured in with support.
She said: “Everyone is shown the NHS their support but I was worried it was a bit too real.
“People get squeamish and don't like talking about death so I didn't expect the response I got.
“It’s been tough usually you invite the family up and take them to the room and walk away after closing the door so they can have their final words.
“Now we can’t do that and we need to be there so they can phone, it is really emotional so I cried a lot that shift, it’s tough.
“All of us were upset on that shift it wasn’t just me.
“Everyday is totally different at work since we are in the receiving unit.
“We don't know how many patients are going to come in or how sick they will be.
“Writing the poem about it has reassured me I have tried my best.
“Maybe it will even make people question if they should go out or not right now.”
