Life

Lockdown Diary: We were naive but we will learn from the way places like Singapore and South Korea dealt with it

We ask people how they are coping in the coronavirus crisis. This week, Dr Lisa Neligan (41) head of the GP team at the private Kingsbridge Hospital, Belfast, who also works as a locum in the NHS

Dr Lisa Neligan (41), a mother-of-four, heads the GP team at Kingsbridge Hospital in Belfast, and works as a locum in the NHS
Dr Lisa Neligan (41), a mother-of-four, heads the GP team at Kingsbridge Hospital in Belfast, and works as a locum in the NHS Dr Lisa Neligan (41), a mother-of-four, heads the GP team at Kingsbridge Hospital in Belfast, and works as a locum in the NHS

What has your reaction to the pandemic been?

I kept an ear out over what was happening in China at the end of last year. Initially, we were a bit naive and didn't think it was that serious. We weren't prepared for it, in terms of policy and availability of protective kit. Even very symptomatic people ringing 111 weren't tested. Concerning the so called 'herd immunity' theory, again I think in terms of this serious, highly contagious virus, it was naive to think that principle would apply. But we will learn from the way places like Singapore and South Korea dealt with it.

How has affected you professionally?

I am working from home, which is bizarre. My team of GPs at the Kingsbridge and I also do telephone and video consults. Some of the work is fairly straightforward with a lot of our patients just wanting repeat prescriptions. But you can get people who are truly ill or showing some of the red flag potential cancer symptoms – I examine them at the hospital. A patient recently had a scan that came back very abnormal. I rang Oncology, who couldn't see her immediately because of the crisis. There is a huge concern about people with normal serious illness, heart disease and cancer, who won't get seen as quickly. There is a lot of anxiety and panic attacks and real mental health issues associated with the coronavirus situation. It's difficult as some of the normal clinics can't operate.

How has this affected you personally?

My husband David, a businessman, is also working from home. And our four children – David (10,) Rebecca (8), Jessica (5) and Bobby, who's one and the afterthought, are also here. They two eldest fight the bit out and the three eldest are also doing homework. Their school, St Anne's, has a weekly plan. We all do the Joe Wicks routine in the morning, probably looking like lunatics.

What's the worst aspect of this?

I think it's the uncertainty, then seeing the overall anxiety. People are scared because of the illness and we are all waiting for the surge.

Are there any positives?

Apart from learning from this, Northern Ireland might have a chance of getting off more lightly. We don't seem to have the same number of cases as they have in Britain. If we follow the government guidelines, things look promising.

From a medical standpoint, how should we proceed, in your view?

We need to push for all NHS and health care workers to get tested for coronavirus. And when we get the antibody test, everybody should be tested. I have not been tested yet and may be asymptomatic.

What keeps you going?

It's a mix of everything. At the end of the day, my family and I all have a cuddle. We might watch TV and at the moment are enjoying The Good Karma Hospital. The kids are used to medical programmes.