Coronavirus: frontline medical staff traumatised by watching patients and colleagues die

Arab Health conference in Dubai hears how medical staff suffered from acute stress, loneliness and insomnia

Frontline staff suffered high levels of stress during the pandemic, a conference heard. Jaime Puebla / The National

The coronavirus pandemic has done serious damage to the mental health of frontline workers around the world, experts have said.

The Arab Health conference in Dubai heard how medical staff were forced to put aside the pain of watching colleagues and loved ones die.

They risked their mental health as they continued to do their duty with many workers – including those in the UAE – suffering acute stress and insomnia.

Many were far from home and suffered from feelings of isolation and insomnia, conference goers heard.

Many healthcare workers were traumatised from the pressure of having to make life and death decisions that you never want to have to make

“Many healthcare workers were traumatised by the pressure of having to make life-and-death decisions that you never want to have to make,” said Dr Adrian James, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, London.

“It’s shocking to have colleagues that you are close to, and you know their families as well, who have died from Covid-19.”

Dr James said medical staff were also affected by having to look on helplessly as patients, many of whom they had grown attached to, suffered the effects of Covid-19.

The mental health of doctors and nurses in the UAE suffered from having to continue on the front line as the pandemic unfolded, one of the country's leading mental health experts said.

A study of more than 2,000 people was conducted last year by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi looking into the effect working through the pandemic had on health care workers.

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Dr Mohamad Karima, who works at Al Zahra Hospital, Sharjah. All those pictured have recovered and all photos by Chris Whiteoak / The National

Dr Ashar Jamal, from Al Zahra Hospital, was in hospital for a week after his health deteriorated because of Covid-19.

Renu Venugopal, who is a nurse at Al Zahra Hospital. The frontline staff at hospitals bore the brunt of the pandemic.

Seema Mary, a nurse at Medcare hospital, Sharjah. Her Covid-19 ordeal helped patients believe they too could recover, she said.

Dr Davinder Singh a cardiologist at the NMC Royal Hospital in Dubai. The first few days after being diagnosed were scary, he said.

Joslin Coelho, who is a nurse at the NMC Royal Hospital in Dubai Investments Park.

Silpa Suresh also a nurse at the NMC Royal Hospital. She has returned to work.

Keshar Bahadur a laboratory ward assistant at the NMC Royal Hospital, DIP. Hospitals filled with patients during the peak of the pandemic.

Dr Iffat Sultana, an internal medicine specialist at the NMC Royal Hospital, Dubai Investments Park. There was a lot of anxiety among hospital staff, she said.

Aldrian Tomas, a customer care representative at the NMC Royal Hospital, Dubai Investments Park.

Jephy Antony, who also works as a nurse at the NMC Royal Hospital. Like his colleagues, Mr Antony has also gone back to work.

Jomon Joy, a ward attendant at the NMC Royal Hospital. Hospitals have since seen a reduction in the number of patients.

Biji Mathew, nursing supervisor at the NMC Royal Hospital. Staff knew early in the year the virus had a good chance of reaching the UAE.

Ruth Kiruba, a nurse at the NMC Royal Hospital. She is back to work treating patients and expecting a child.

"The data showed us the people who were most affected were single expatriates, with the majority of them working in nursing," said Dr Nahida Ahmed, consultant psychiatrist and chairwoman of mental health at Abu Dhabi Health Services (Seha).

“The symptoms they reported were mostly in terms of acute stress disorders.

“A lot of them were having insomnia and were constantly worried for the safety of family members, more so than their own.”

She praised the UAE government for its initiatives to promote the mental wellbeing of medical staff, including a free phone counselling service.

Dr Ahmed said the Frontline Heroes Office was a positive example of how the UAE was looking after the mental health of its doctors and nurses.

It was created last year to promote the wellbeing of those working on the frontlines, as well as their families. There are more than 100,000 key workers on its books.

In April, Dr Maha Barakat, director general of the office, said 14 frontline staff had died in the UAE since the beginning of the pandemic.

Delegates at the conference also heard how healthcare workers, especially those who worked in countries far away from their families, had not seen loved ones for more than a year and a half, another factor that took its toll on their mental health.

“There has been a surge in healthcare professionals seeking advice about their mental health,” said Subodh Dave, dean of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, London.

“The psychological impact has been absolutely huge, with many feeling loneliness at not being able to see their families and colleagues in person. I know that I have not seen my own family in 18 months.”

The problem of loneliness and isolation was more pronounced for international workers, he said.

Arab Health, meanwhile, runs at the World Trade Centre until Thursday.