A MUM has described the horrifying moment she was sent home from hospital after a patient in her ward contracted coronavirus.

Lisa Hicks was admitted to Basildon Hospital on March 28, but was quickly sent home on March 30 after a woman in her ward tested positive for Covid-19.

The 42-year-old mum-of-four, who suffers from life-threatening lupus nephritis stage 4/5 kidney failure, said she was sent home with antibiotics and steroids.

She was told to only call the NHS 111 service if her condition became extremely bad.

She said: “I went in on the 28th which was my birthday, I was really, really unwell.

“I believe I was tested for Covid-19, as I had a high temperature.

“When I was put on the ward, everything was quite comfortable, I can’t fault the nurses, they couldn’t have done more for us.

“I think they were shorthanded; the pressure really was on them.

“The lady opposite me got very sick through the night, she was an elderly lady, I think she had a touch of Alzheimer’s.

“She kept saying: ‘I am dying, I can’t breathe’. The nurses were checking her and she was asking to see her children.

“She felt like she was being punished, they were sat by her, cuddling her and giving her reassurance saying it was not her fault.

“Then, on the 30th, before I knew it curtains were being ripped down and the lady was put in isolation.

“The nurses were very afraid; you could see the fear on their faces."

She added: “The nurses were amazing, I can’t fault the NHS but there was so much shortage, they didn’t have masks or gloves.

“The ICUs have what they need, but all wards should have this.

“I just don’t understand what’s going on at the hospital, it’s not their fault, they are being failed as well, I could see it in their eyes.

“On the day I spoke with a nurse and she said she had been on her sixth night in a row. She said that she had taken an oath and it was to serve and protect us, and I was just blown away.

“She has to go back to her family after all this, where does it stop?"

“They need lots of help with the equipment themselves. I wonder how many more have picked it up from the ward.

“I’m self-isolating now and I really don’t feel great. All the symptoms I get are what I would get with my condition, I am always short of breath, it’s really hard to distinguish.”

Ms Hicks lives with her 19-year-old daughter Kharis Firkins, who is caring for her by bringing her food and cleaning the house.

She sadly lost her 12-year-old son Micky Bennett to cancer in April last year.

Echo:

Lisa Hicks with son Micky and his dad David Bennett

Her employers at Poundland have allowed her to remain away from work so she can care for her mother.

Ms Hicks said: “She’s managed to get some masks and gloves. She’s had to come away from work, but her boss has been amazing, can’t fault him.

“I am very lucky; I know there’s people out there who are having to do this on their own.

“The government really needs to help the nurses more; the more of them that get ill the less there are helping us.

“They already do enough, they need help, not more added pressure, they are only human beings.”

Basildon Hospital have been contacted for comment.