Carrickfergus paramedic is applauded from hospital after Covid-19 battle

Joan Turner, who has worked for the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service for 35 years, received a round of applause from frontline staff as she took her leave from the Mater Hospital yesterday (Tuesday) following a 10-day battle with the virus.

Her brother, DUP MLA David Hilditch, posted a video of Joan’s send-off by staff at the Belfast Trust’s Covid-19 hospital.

He said: “Great news, my sister Joan (a paramedic) being released from the Mater Covid-19 ward, a big thank you to the medical team and all staff involved .... thank you.”

David told this newspaper: “About 10 days ago she had symptoms that were not like those associated with the virus. All of a sudden she could not get a breath. She phoned and they got an ambulance and she was taken straight to ICU at the Mater.”

The family, he added, then went through an anxious period as Joan, who is in her mid-50s, received treatment.

“I received a phone call a day from the ward doctor, who gave an update. I knew she was not well. There was difficulty with the phone system at first, but this seemed to rectify. I got regular updates, that was quite good.”

Joan, who was one of the first females to qualify in welding at Felden Training Centre, Newtownabbey, four decades ago, showed a steely determination to come through the ordeal.

David added: “She always was a bit of a fighter, a character. She had a restful first evening and replied to a text this morning.”

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