Led By Donkeys project message from NHS doctors on to parliament pleading for PPE

The Doctors' Association's Dr Samantha Batt-Rawden during message beamed on to the House of Parliament - Credit: Archant

Anti-Brexit campaigners Led By Donkeys and lobbying body The Doctors’ Association have turned their attention to the government’s response to the coronavirus, projecting a desperate message from NHS workers on to the Houses of Parliament.

Frontline staff – from a final year medical student to senior doctors – have pleaded in the footage for Boris Johnson to do more to protect their lives by boosting PPE stocks across the country.

Association head and NHS doctor Samantha Batt-Rawden was seen saying: ‘Just last week I lost one of my own colleagues to Covid-19. I can’t tell you what that feels like.’

She pleaded with Boris Johnson, adding: ‘The NHS saved your life. Now, we need you to save ours.’

Doctor Rinesh Parmar, donned in his blue scrubs, warned: ‘Without it (PPE), they (NHS staff) risk becoming unwell and who will then be left to look,..after our loved ones and those we care about?’

Frontline workers have said the lack of proper protective equipment is putting their lives at risk and seriously undermining the NHS’ response to the coronavirus epidemic.

So far, 27 NHS staff have died from the virus. There are fears that number could rise as staff face continuing shortages of PPE during the peak of the epidemic.

There was an outpouring of support on Twitter. One person wrote: ‘My heart hurts that it has to come to this – for our NHS staff to have to beg and plead for what they need. #StayHomeSaveLives.’

One worker posted: ‘@MattHancock Please please help sort this out as a priority. I have had to source and happy to pay for visors for my wife and colleagues, PPE saves lives! #ProtectTheNHS #SaveLives.’

Boris Johnson was admitted to St Thomas’ Intensive Care Unit ten days ago with severe coronavirus symptoms. The prime minister was recently released and is recovering in a home in Buckinghamshire.

Led By Donkeys and the Doctors’ Association teamed up to produce the video.

Led by Donkeys emerged during the campaign against Brexit, with a series of high profile stunts, including projecting hypocritical tweets by Pro-Brexiteers on the white cliffs of Dover and beaming a video of Boris Johnson berating US president Donald Trump on to the Big Ben.

The Doctors’ Association was formed by junior doctors in 2018 and is a volunteer-run, doctor-led organisation that advocates for NHS staff.