A HOSPICE doctor has spoken about her recovery at home from Covid-19 to allay people's fears.
Dr Andrea Graham, medical director at St Luke's Hospice in Winsford, suspects she contracted coronavirus a month ago, although she has not been tested.
The mum-of-three is now fit and well and back at work and says there have been no cases at the hospice.
"I started with flu-like symptoms, achy, shivery and had a cracking headache," said Dr Graham, who immediately self-isolated.
"My husband is a GP and moved into a hotel because he wanted to be there for his patients as he didn't know when a big wave would hit us."
On day eight her condition deteriorated.
"I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t get out of bed and felt absolutely awful," she said. "There was no point me clogging up a hospital bed. I spoke to my GP and stayed at home."
Dr Graham wants to thank her colleagues for looking after patients in her absence.
Dr Andrea Graham, medical director at St Luke's Hospice talks about her recovery at home from Covid-19 to allay fears
"We have a very small medical team who provide 24-hour cover both for the ward and the advice line for hospital and community professional colleagues in need of advice," she said.
"The team had to cover not only my usual work but my nights and weekend on call and also do telephone consultations for patients that I would normally see in clinic at Leighton, They did this voluntarily due to their commitment to the hospice."
Staff now speak regularly to hundreds of patients by phone and continue to provide a counselling, bereavement service and 24-hour helpline staffed by a nurse.
Patients are still being admitted for treatment though the day hospice is closed.
Dr Graham said:"We are keeping in contact with patients and checking they are Ok. Our counselling team is having consultations over the phone or online."
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Staff have plenty of personal protection equipment and volunteers have been making them scrubs.
St Luke's relies on fundraising for 85 per cent of its income. With charity shops closed and events postponed, the hospice hopes the community will rally round.
"Whatever people can do from home is wonderful, any donation – however big or small – will really help the hospice through this difficult time," said Dr Graham.
To support St Luke's Hospice visit https://www.slhospice.co.uk/donate/ St Luke's Hospice visit www.slhospice.co.uk/donate
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