Meet the frontline NHS worker from Sheffield with asthma braving Covid-19

A frontline NHS worker from Sheffield who suffers with asthma has put concerns over her health to one side to help care for coronavirus patients.
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Mother-of-one Sophie Foster, 26, has worked as a clinical support worker at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital for two years, having previously worked as a carer for more than five years.

“I absolutely love it,” she said.

“Just knowing you are there to give someone the care and love they need is out of this world. And knowing the family members appreciate what you do for them, they thank you all the time.”

Sophie Foster, a clinical support worker at Sheffield's Royal Hallamshire Hospital.Sophie Foster, a clinical support worker at Sheffield's Royal Hallamshire Hospital.
Sophie Foster, a clinical support worker at Sheffield's Royal Hallamshire Hospital.
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Sophie added: “It’s just overwhelming because you don’t see how families appreciate you until they tell you and send you cards and gifts.”

Although she normally works in theatre, Sophie has started working on the hospital wards to help with increased demand because of coronavirus.

She said: “It’s been alright. It was scary at first but I feel a lot more positive now.

“When you first go you don’t know what’s behind the door.”

Staff on the wards have received all the personal protective equipment they need for now, Sophie said.

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“We’re really protected up there, we seem to have enough for the moment.

“We’ve got masks, hats, visors, gowns, gloves, different shoes to put on, aprons on top of our gowns – we have everything we need to go and treat the patients.”

She added: “I would say it is busy but we have got quite a few staff on the wards because we have all come from different departments.”

While Sophie is not concerned about her asthma, she admitted having a 10-month-old daughter – Ava – is “scary” when working on the front line.

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She said: “I wouldn’t say my asthma is as bad as what other people have. It only occurs in summer because I have hay fever as well.

In the future, Sophie wants to train to become a nurse.

She said: “I did want to be a midwife but I changed my mind and want to be a nurse. I like the patient interaction and giving people the care they need.”

From all of us at The Star, thank you and good luck.

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