A woman who was hospitalised last year with Covid-19 said a virtual visiting app “saved her life”.
Georgia Prorok was taken to intensive care at Guy’s Hospital in March 2020 when her organs started failing. An app called Life Lines developed with the help of Guy’s and King’s College Hospital doctors helped her stay in touch with her husband John virtually over her six weeks in the unit.
Georgia said: “It was like living a nightmare. I was scared when I woke up from the coma and all I wanted was my family to be by my bedside. Life Lines gave me some peace because it was the only line of communication I had with my husband and sister.”
The 45-year-old added: “The second or third time I used the tablet it saved my life. I had some dark moments and felt like I didn’t want to carry on, I didn’t have the strength. When I spoke to my husband and sister they were saying ‘do it for us’. It gave me the strength to carry on fighting for my life.” As well as facilitating a video call between Georgia and her family, Life Lines gave medical staff the opportunity to explain treatments and answer John’s questions.
Georgia said: “It was a rollercoaster for my family and there were times when they didn’t think I was going to make it. Life Lines allowed John to speak to the staff on a daily basis and to have reassurance from seeing me.”
The Life Lines project was set up by Professor Louise Rose, professor of critical care nursing at King’s College London, and Dr Joel Meyer, critical care consultant at Guy’s and St Thomas’.
Professor Rose said: “When we started Life Lines, we had no idea it would grow to such a large and sustained initiative, with so many people going to such lengths to keep families connected with their loved ones.
“We have now reached another milestone of 100,000 family virtual visits. We are so grateful to everyone who has helped make this happen – we have brought comfort and relieved distress for thousands of families and patients across the UK.”
Dr Meyer said: “It’s fantastic to see how well Georgia is doing after being so unwell, and I’m so glad that the Life Lines project was able to support her, and her family, while she was being treated in intensive care.
“Each Life Lines video call has been an essential connection that might otherwise not have happened between a family and their loved one in intensive care. Brilliant, dedicated staff have ensured that families stay connected during exceptional pandemic times.
“Whilst Life Lines remains primarily a pandemic virtual visiting response, it has highlighted ways to digitally enhance intensive care. For instance, the Life Lines team is developing a programme to embed virtual visits into routine intensive care practice even after face-to-face visiting resumes.”
Georgia spent almost seven months receiving treatment in two hospitals and a rehabilitation centre, and had to learn to walk and talk again.
She said: “Mentally and physically I’m doing increasingly well and it’s testament to all the NHS staff who cared for me and continue to help me. Every single one of them is a huge part of me being here and my recovery. It feels like I have been in a bad film but with a good ending.”