Gertrude

Gender: Female
Ethnicity: Black British
Background: Gertrude is 52 years old and is Black British. She works as a nurse in a care home. Gertrude thinks she caught Covid from a patient at work. Her faith in God helped her during this time.

Gertrude was working overseas when the pandemic first happened. She had heard of a few cases in neighbouring countries but thought nothing of it. When she returned to the UK, there were a few cases in the neighbouring cities. This concerned Gertrude. She remembers thinking, it’s a bit close Her son even rang her telling her to be careful. Nonetheless, she felt certain she would be okay.

Gertrude believes she caught Covid through her job as a nurse in a care home. At the time, she was looking after somebody with a severe cough. At first, she did not think the person had Covid because they were not running a high temperature. However, the next day Gertrude started to feel unwell. She initially put this down to tiredness, but when she returned to work and found out the person had tested positive for Covid she started to panic.

Gertrude had a high temperature and body aches and pains. She says it was bad enough to take paracetamol, which is not something she would not usually do. Gertrude rang NHS 111 who said that she probably had Covid and to isolate. From then on, Gertrude’s symptoms got worse and worse, to the point where she could not get out of bed. She was determined not to go to hospital even if things became serious because she wanted to be near her sons.

Gertrude tried to help her condition by using essential oils. She also says her faith in God helped her during this time.

Gertrude preferred to be at home with her son than risk dying alone in hospital.

Age at interview 52

Gertrude preferred ‘natural immunity’ to vaccines because of her experience of vaccine side effects in the past.

Age at interview 52

Gertrude, a care home nurse, felt upset by how nurses have been treated through the pandemic.

Age at interview 52

Gertrude could see that Covid was getting closer to the hospital where she worked as a nurse.

Age at interview 52

Gertrude thought Vitamin D had a role in why ethnic minorities were more affected by Covid.

Age at interview 52