Here, you can find any of the interviews on this site.
Paul is likely to have contracted Covid during a visit to the pub in the early days of the pandemic. He spent 47 days in hospital, during which he was mechanically ventilated. He often thinks about the impact of his illness episode on his family. Interviewed for the study in March 2021.
Paul lives with his wife and 12-year-old son in a remote location in Scotland. His adult daughter lives elsewhere. Paul has worked as a lift engineer for 35 years, from...
Chris was in hospital for 17 days (10 days on ICU with CPAP) between Christmas 2020 and early January 2021. Chris found the discharge summary helpful in his recovery, as well as contact with other patients. At the time of the interview (March 2021) he was back at work part-time and continued his recovery. Interviewed for the study in March 2021.
Chris works as a butcher in the family business. He lives with his father and mother, who also work in the shop. He is 33. White English.
Shaun was diagnosed with and treated for blood cancer in 2019. When Deborah and her son contracted Covid in March 2020, they were particularly careful about physical separation from him within their home. Shaun fell ill nevertheless and went on to become critically ill. He survived with six weeks of intensive care treatment. Interviewed for the study in March 2021.
Deborah works as a finance manager. Deborah and Shaun aged 54 have two adult children. Ethnic background: White British
Eight days after the onset of symptoms at home, Brian was admitted to hospital with Covid. Following the decline in oxygen levels over eight days he was admitted to ICU, where he spent six days on the CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) mask. He suffered a heart attack. He was discharged home after a total of 20 days. He continued to be breathless seven weeks later. Interviewed for the study in March 2021.
Brian works as a roofing contractor. He is married with one child. White British.
After his wife had been in ICU with Covid in January 2020, he was himself admitted to hospital with severe Covid in December 2020. Royston was in ICU on CPAP for 7 days and two weeks on a respiratory ward. Two of his grandsons were admitted to hospital at the same time. Interviewed for the study in March 2021.
Royston is married and has 5 children and 4 stepchildren. He is a semi-retired butcher. Ethnic background: White British (Cornish Celt)
Dana and her older daughter recovered from Covid at home within a week in March 2020, but Dana's husband had to be admitted to Intensive Care. He was in hospital for 70 days (including 56 days on a ventilator), a traumatic time for the whole family, marked by a lack of information and anxiety. He is now back home. Interviewed for the study in February 2021.
Dana and her husband have three children, aged 11,15 and 17. Jewish White British. Dana works as a Speech and Language Therapist.
Zoe spent 14 days on ICU and 10 days on the High Dependency ward in the spring of 2020. She was ventilated and later on CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure). She found it particularly painful to be witness to what happened around her. Zoe felt truly supported by her GP in her recovery. Interviewed for the study in February 2021.
Zoe and her husband have 4 sons aged 26, 24, 22 and 17. Zoe works in retail. Ethnic background: White British
Caroline developed a chest infection, pneumonia and sepsis after contracting Covid. Both her arms and feet had to be amputated during the 4 weeks she spent in critical care. She spent a further seven weeks in hospital and another 11 weeks in rehab. Interviewed for the study in February 2021.
Caroline is married and lives with her husband. She retired from her teaching job after her hospital admission. Caroline has two adult daughters. White British.
Gerry spent 23 days in ICU in April and May 2020. He suffered delirium, pneumonia and various other medical complications. The episode changed his outlook on life. His recovery has been difficult but steady. Interviewed for the study in February 2021.
Gerry lives in Scotland with his wife and three children (aged 10, 15 and 19 at the time of admission). He worked in risk analysis prior to admission and has...
Steven fell ill with Covid in late March 2020. Whilst he was in ICU, he suffered two strokes. He has felt very supported by the work of a charity that helped him recover from the brain injury he sustained. Interviewed for the study February 2021.
Steven is married with three children (aged 34, 32 and 26). He has worked as a journalist and a public relations director but had retired following the strokes he had...
