An asthmatic Perth man who was hospitalised for over a week with Covid-19 has given a heartfelt thank you to the medical staff who helped get him on the road to recovery.
Gavin Doris (32) of Letham was admitted to Perth Royal Infirmary on June 19 after feeling very ill and was “struggling to stand up”.
He had attended his local GP who recommended he get taken to hospital via ambulance due to the severity of his symptoms.
After being admitted to ward four, nurses and doctors worked round-the-clock to monitor and look after Gavin.
Despite there being no need for a ventilator, the virus hit him hard.
“I didn’t need a breathing machine because my lungs were fine. I just felt so weak and I had no energy,” he revealed to the PA.
“I was struggling to stand up. I was affected a lot because I am asthmatic.
“The staff were all very polite and very professional. They were going in and out the room all the time and the PPE was always clean.
“I was better on June 25 and felt well enough to go home.”
Gavin was discharged from PRI on Monday, June 27 but admitted was still “majorly affected” for over 10 days after it.
“I still feel a bit off, I have still not returned to my full strength,” he added.
“You need to appreciate every day you have in life.”
He added: “More people should recognise that the medical staff are facing this and risk taking this home to there families.
“A bit more of a thank you and more gratitude is needed for what they do.
“They are the brave ones on the front line.
“Some only get standard sick pay when they get Covid.
“I thought there was a lot of scaremongering to start with but I am a different person and put my hands up and say I was wrong.
“It is not a fantasy, Covid is real.
“There has also been a big spike in Tayside recently and in winter it is going to spike up massively.”
He added: “I want to thank the staff and if it was not for them I would have had a mental health breakdown over it.
“And thank you to the paramedics who took me to the hospital.
“We need to give the NHS and the staff more respect for what they do.”
