Frontline Egyptian doctor in UK fears for family if he dies

An Egyptian doctor on the front line of the UK's National Health Service (NHS) has spoken emotionally to BBC Radio London about his fears that his family could be kicked out of the country if he becomes ill and dies from coronavirus in the course of treating patients.

Dr Aladdin, who has been working in the UK for more than two years as an acute medical registrar, said that he wants his family to feel safe, that they would not be deported, if he was taken ill and died.

His comments are a stark reminder of the uncertainty facing foreign doctors who are working in the UK on a visa at this time.

Dr Aladdin said he couldn’t do more to prove he loved the UK, than to risk sacrificing his own life and his family’s future by caring for patients.

Quote Message: If I get a high fever and shortness of breath at the moment, I will call the ambulance for myself. They will take me to hospital. My family will not see me again. That will be the last time they will see me. If I’m lucky I will come back. But if I’m not lucky, which happens to a lot of people of different ages, I will just go to the ITU, the ventilator and then I will die. So you can imagine the situation it will be for my family at home. The next day they will be asked to leave the country to go to Egypt."
If I get a high fever and shortness of breath at the moment, I will call the ambulance for myself. They will take me to hospital. My family will not see me again. That will be the last time they will see me. If I’m lucky I will come back. But if I’m not lucky, which happens to a lot of people of different ages, I will just go to the ITU, the ventilator and then I will die. So you can imagine the situation it will be for my family at home. The next day they will be asked to leave the country to go to Egypt."

Quote Message: I would like to feel that if I leave my home right now sick, going to the hospital, if I’m not coming back again, my family would be safe here, because I sacrificed my life for this country and for the people here. I think that I cannot do anything more to prove that I love this country and I love this place.”
I would like to feel that if I leave my home right now sick, going to the hospital, if I’m not coming back again, my family would be safe here, because I sacrificed my life for this country and for the people here. I think that I cannot do anything more to prove that I love this country and I love this place.”

Here is the full interview:

“If I don’t come back because I sacrificed my life for this country & for the people here, I can't do anything more to prove that I love this country”

Listen to this call to @EddieNestorMBE from an Egyptian doctor

This is the harsh reality for foreign workers on NHS frontline???? pic.twitter.com/BnhJYGjev6

— BBC Radio London (@BBCRadioLondon) April 22, 2020