A former nurse is returning to the frontline to help battle the coronavirus outbreak - and is encouraging others to do the same.

Debbie Higgs will be working in the critical care unit at the QEQM hospital in Margate.

She said: “It really wasn’t a difficult decision to go back.

“The team are fantastic and they want to encourage people to come back to help. They are making me feel very welcome and comfortable.”

Ms Higgs retired from clinical work a year ago, and has been working on the Sunrise new electronic health record project across East Kent Hospitals.

But as the Trust prepares to care for more of the sickest Covid-19 patients or those showing symptoms, the former critical care nurse volunteered to help out her old team.

Ms Higgs spent 19 years working clinically but says there is training available for people with less experience.

“Nationally and locally the critical care community have developed resource packages to support both non-critical care staff and those coming back into the specialism after a break," she said.

“The team are so pleased to see you and so supportive.

“Go back and help if you can. Don’t be scared. My experience is that you should not be worried.

“We will all have to keep the momentum going but if we work together and support each other we can do this.”

Clinicians who have not practised for some time can find out more about how to return to the NHS here.

Anyone with critical care experience who can help locally is asked to email ekhuft.returntoclinical-itu@nhs.net.

For the latest coronavirus news and advice, click here.

Read more: All the latest news from Kent