A Bermudian nurse who has watched Covid-19 patients die in the UK yesterday appealed to the Bermudian public to get the vaccine.

Angela Whayman, 32, said that the vaccine was “the only way to make progress in halting this destructive virus”.

Ms Whayman, who has had the first of two vaccination jabs, added: “We do not want to see anyone else suffering as we have seen others suffer in the last year when there are preventive measures being offered to stop the spread and reduce the symptoms.”

The veteran nurse, who works at a hospital in Oxford, said that the pandemic was “by far the most difficult and exhausting year that I have faced”.

She added that caring for terminal Covid-19 patients was “overwhelming and draining”.

Ms Whayman, who qualified in 2012, specialised as a paediatric nurse, but was transferred to her hospital’s adult ICU unit after it was flooded with Covid-19 patients in March last year.

She highlighted fear that Covid-19 patients suffered as they died alone.

The former Bermuda High School pupil from St David’s said: “I was helping to care for an adult patient who was dying from Covid-19.

“Knowing that the level of care you can offer is maximised and that there are no further treatment options available is so awful.

“The patient was ventilated and in an induced coma and was seemingly unaware of the situation, which offered some comfort.”

But she added: “This did not make it any easier because you are still so aware that their family should be at their bedside, holding their hand and talking to them – telling them how important they are and how they’re loved and will be missed.

“The reality was that there were six other patients in the ward, all very sick and needing treatment.

“I did everything within my ability to spend as much time with the dying patient, taking time to do his care and talking to him, comforting and reassuring him that he was safe and being looked after.

“When I returned after my shift, he had passed away.”

Ms Whayman said that isolation was the hardest aspect of the disease for patients and their relatives to overcome – and also put massive stress on medical teams.

She said: “As children’s nurses, we are so used to a family-centred approach to our care, and rely so heavily on parents to be the advocate for their child – to provide the familiarity and emotional support for them when they are sick and in the scary environment that is ICU.

“So when parents are told they cannot visit, it makes the situation so much more difficult for them and the child.”

Ms Whayman added: “We do have family support bubbles that can visit and have been very fortunate in that we have technology to be able to update parents with messages and videos of their child, but I’m sure for them it is nowhere near as comforting as being at their bedside.”

Ms Whayman emphasised that fears about the vaccine were unfounded.

She told the Bermudian public: “The vaccine is safe and it is being offered to you for your own protection.

“We do not want to see anyone else suffering as we have seen others suffer in the last year when there are preventive measures being offered to you to stop the spread and reduce the symptoms.

“I have already had the first vaccine against Covid-19 and am waiting to be given the second dose at the end of February.

“I welcomed its arrival with open arms and feel so fortunate to have received the first dose.”

Ms Whayman said: “I have strongly encouraged my family and friends to apply for the vaccine and to have it as soon as possible. I feel that this may be the only way to make progress in halting this destructive virus.”

She added that coronavirus tests were also a vital weapon in the battle against the potential killer.

Ms Whayman said: “In terms of getting tested, I think it has been absolutely vital in isolating the infection and halting its spread.

“There have been some outbreaks within the hospitals from asymptomatic staff transmission and from positive patients but, by having routine testing, these positive cases have been identified in a timely manner and therefore isolated.

“This has meant that we have been able to continue to provide care for the patients that need us at this time.

“Although the test itself isn’t particularly comfortable, it doesn’t last long – and the alternative could be so much worse.”

For information on Covid-19 vaccines, click here