Dr Larisa: 'I'm working with Duchess of York to distribute PPE'
Dr Larisa tells us that while the hospital she's working in has adequate supplies of PPE, other places on the frontline are so short of it that she’s contacted the Duchess of York so that they can come up with a solution together.
Dr Larisa explained to Holly and Phillip, "I think we've all heard there's national shortages, thankfully we have enough in our hospital, especially in our Intensive Care Units where the risk of exposure is at its greatest.
"But as we've heard, there are some horrific stories coming out regarding other NHS units just not having enough, and whatsmore, even outside in district communities and social care."
Dr Larisa continued, "It's so difficult to hear these stories, especially as a healthcare professional myself, to know that there are colleagues that we are losing every single day due to this virus - lives that we shouldn't be losing.
"It's one thing to not be able to control some of the effects of this virus and to be grappling with dealing with the serious consequences of treating this disease, but it's quite another when these deaths are entirely preventable and we are letting colleagues go.
"We've got over 100 healthcare workers who have now died. And one death is awful enough, let alone over 100. It's just completely unacceptable, and it makes me shudder.
My heart just goes out to all of those people and all of those families."
Asked by Phillip about the PPE that has reportedly arrived in this country, Dr Larisa said, "I'm well aware that there are shipments ready to go out, and it's just a question of distributing it, what I've decided to do is take some of this into my own hands and try and make an effort at the local level where I can.
I have actually been in touch with the Duchess of York, who has agreed to help me with this, and together we are going to ensure we get the supplies into the country as soon as possible, and then distribute them to all the places that actually need them so desperately, and where this help cannot get there in time.
You know what, even if it means getting into a car and driving round with my friends, just distributing this stuff to the various hospitals, this is something I'm very willing to do.