Celebrating the BACKBONE OF THE NHS

As nurses and doctors are called up to the front line, we have to be thankful for those carrying on caring for the rest of us

- EMMA ROSSITER, EIMEAR O'HAGAN

The front line used to be a phrase associated with war, but today those closest to the enemy are fighting a very different kind of battle. Instead of camouflage, they wear scrubs and face masks. We’re incredibly thankful to all those helping people hospitalised with COVID-19 – and all those background workers who are more vital than ever.

For many of us, the usual nine-to-five has been disrupted – we’re working from home, our children unable to attend school. But, for nurses working on cancerwards, paramedics racing to the scene of an accident and midwives bringing new life into this world, it’s business as usual.

They’re preparing for the worst, hoping they don’t contract the virus and trying to prevent the spread, all while caring for those in need of urgent medical attention.

While millions take part in Clap For Our Carers, cheering and applauding from the thresholds of our homes, one new mum who couldn’t be more thankful for the midwives soldiering on is Chloe Agnew.

Here, she tells Woman what it was like giving birth in the midst of a pandemic.

‘STAFF APPEARED WEARING MASKS AND PROTECTIVE APRONS’