Addendum February 2021:

Since starting this page on a slight whim a few months ago, I have been humbled and astounded by the response! It goes without saying this page has turned into much more than I could ever have imagined and for that I am so grateful. For full transparency I wanted to provide an update on its progress.

I have set up a formal fund within my hospital's charity which is monitored by an appointed accountant. Money has been spent, as advertised, on 30+ care packages as well as larger items like coffee machines - rest assured, staff have been well caffeinated! iPads for patients to FaceTime their loved ones are on their way. I'm now moving on and focusing funds on building what I hope will be a beautiful memorial garden on site. It will be designed thoughtfully to pay respect to those lost, whilst celebrating NHS staff and enhancing care for future patients. I hope it can be enjoyed by everyone but with a specific focus on palliative patients and those with dementia/delirium. Stay tuned!

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I am a junior doctor working on one of the covid wards in a Devon Hospital. I helped out during the last wave too and that was a doddle compared to the scenes unfolding during our second hit. I'd like to spare friends and the general public from the harrowing reality of my job right now. I'm also delicately trying to find that sweet spot between getting people to care and sharing more than I'm allowed.

But let me paint you a slightly watered down picture: to say my colleagues and I are being asked to risk our own lives is not an overstatement. I know of young doctors and nurses who have died - it's a rare but not impossible reality. If said staff survive, which they probably will, they won't necessarily be spared from the chronic disease our friend covid likes to leave behind. It's the gift that just keeps giving.

Now ignoring the risk we're exposed to - no word quite sums up the day-to-day life on a covid ward. I've seen plenty of people die but not like this. I've worked gruelling and tough shifts many times before but not like this. I'm usually blindly optimistic about most things in life and very able to laugh off the job - it's a coping mechanism hospital staff all use. But this is bad and winter has only just begun; mustering up any kind of enthusiasm for the months ahead is impossible. Morale has never been so low.

For once in my life I'm actually trying to do something about it. I've been writing to local businesses and eateries asking them to send us care packages simply to keep our spirits up. Most say no - of course many are struggling themselves and not in a position to be charitable. During the last wave we were inundated with them; people were clapping - everything was a bit tough but at least our community was cheering us on. No one's clapping this time.

I am asking friends and friends of friends to help me cheer on my covid colleagues. I will very gladly spend days off sourcing my own care packages and delivering them to the wards. If you could donate anything I would be immeasurably grateful - it will go towards moisturiser and sweet treats to keep us all going.

P.s. picture was obviously taken long before covid was a thing!