Coronavirus: Peterborough medical expert is on the frontline of the battle to care for Covid victims at Nightingale Hospital

Anaesthetic practitioner Gary Braesyde (45) of Hampton, is leading an eight-strong care team at the newly created Nightingale Hospital looking after a rapidly growing number of the most seriously ill Covid patients.

Built in just nine days in response to the health scare, the 4,000-bed Nightingale is the UK’s newest and largest hospital facility and has been created inside East London’s ExCeL exhibition centre.

Mr Braesyde, who had left the NHS just months ago to set up his own business in Peterborough, has now put his own enterprise on hold to stand alongside his medical colleagues as they struggle with an almost overwhelming number of patients.

He said: “I was invited as a clinical educator to teach at Nightingale but when I saw the situation I knew I just had to be involved far more.

“I just had to do it.

“This job is a calling. I could not stand by and see my colleagues working so hard that they were almost dropping on the floor.”

Mr Braesyde, a father of two, began his new role on Tuesday and says that since then he has worked 76 hours before a getting a two day break.

He said: “There are 4,000 beds at the Nightingale Hospital - while it isn’t full the number of patients is increasing by day by day.

“We are dealing with the most critically ill patients. It is traumatic.

“It is horrible to see how poorly these patients are but it does show you that this virus can strike anyone.

“It isn’t something that only afflicts the elderly or those with underlying health conditions - it can hit healthy people of any age.”

And Mr Braesyde has a stern message for anyone considering shunning the advice of health chiefs and government ministers to stay at home during the Easter break.

He said: “Ignoring the official advice is making a mockery of the 8,958 deaths in the UK due to this virus.

“Anyone thinking of ignoring the advice should take a long look at loved ones, friends and neighbours - acting irresponsibly by helping to spread the virus could mean you never see them again.

“This is not a rehearsal - it is not a game.”