Call to treat doctors for Covid PTSD

AN urgent call is being made for health services to be stepped up for NHS staff amid fears many are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder following the Covid pandemic.

- By Jonathan Walker

And warnings that medical workers are suffering "flashbacks" but have received no support are to be probed by health minister Stephen Kinnock.

One in 20 GPs have used a specialist service to help workers with mental health and addiction issues.

The alarm was raised by Labour MP Peter Prinsley, a former consultant surgeon at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, who warned doctors needed urgent help.

He highlighted the case of a former medical student "who described the terrible flashbacks and post-traumatic stress disorder of the young clinical intensive therapy unit staff who witnessed 40 or 50 Covid admissions die at a hospital in Yorkshire, and the complete lack of support they received.

"Many are reluctant to seek help and do not know where to turn.