NHS nurse, 28, in coronavirus ward ‘told to write will before first shift’

A nurse treating coronavirus has revealed that she was told to make sure her will was in order before her first shift in intensive care.

Amber Cowan, 28, an NHS nurse in intensive care in Glasgow, said managers had told her and other frontline staff to have their pensions and wills "sorted" as the deadly Covid-19 pandemic worsens.

The nurse tweeted an exhausted-looking selfie along with the post: "Getting told at 28 to make sure you have your pension and will sorted.

"First night in intensive care and we are short-staffed."

Amber's Twitter account has since been deactivated after her post on Tuesday received more than 13,000 likes.

It comes as medics across the UK have complained about not having the proper protective equipment (PPE) as they treat patients.

The British Medical Association (BMA) has warned that doctors and patients will die without enough PPE due to lack of stock.

There is "growing evidence that thousands of GPs and hospital staff are still not being provided with the kit they need to properly protect themselves and their patients," the BMA said.

This is despite government assurances that the NHS will be properly staffed.

On Thursday, the Department of Health said 24.6 million gloves, 7.5 million face masks and 1.9 million eye protectors have been sent to the NHS since the start of the crisis.

Yesterday, millions of Brits came out to clap for the NHS in a sign of support for healthcare workers.

Today, the chief executive of the NHS Simon Stevens announced that two makeshift hospitals for coronavirus patients are being built in Birmingham and Manchester.

The GMEX in Manchester and the NEC in Birmingham will together have enough beds for 2,500 patients.

This comes after the ExCel Centre in east London was converted into a huge new "Nightingale Hospital" with room for 4,000 beds and two morgues.

  • Eight coronavirus symptoms that suggest you had Covid-19 before the outbreak

Speaking at the same press conference in Downing Street, Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove announced that increased testing capacity would be roled out for frontline NHS staff.

Gove was filling in after Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock both tested positive for coronavirus.

Earlier, Johnson had revealed that more than half a million people have responded to the call to volunteer for the NHS after an appeal was launched on Tuesday — double the number expected.

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