Recuperating During the Pandemic

The Overnight Telecare Service are pleased to welcome back one of their members Paul, who had recently contracted COVID-19 and has donated his plasma this week to support ongoing research.

Paul Henderson, who works with the Overnight Telecare Service assists people in Sunderland who are supported by Telecare Response (provided by Sunderland Care and Support), making home visits and wellness checks, 24 hours a day.

He recently fell ill with symptoms of COVID-19 and after testing positive which meant he had to remain at home for over 14 days (as quarantine guidance advises).

After this time, when he returned to work, he was welcomed back to his team with open arms and lot of celebration. After he recovered back to good health, he’s decided to donate his plasma via the Newcastle NHS Convalescent Plasma Programme, who collect plasma from people who’ve had COVID-19 in order to use it in clinical trials exploring treatments for people with COVID-19.

Plasma from people who have recovered from COVID-19 may save the lives of people who are still ill.

Plasma is a yellow-ish liquid in your blood that carries red and white blood cells and platelets around the body and after getting sick, your plasma contains antibodies used to help fight infection. Convalescent plasma is the antibody-rich plasma of someone who has recovered from a virus, in this case COVID-19. This plasma can be transfused to patients whose immune systems are struggling to develop their own antibodies.

If you have tested positive for coronavirus or had clear symptoms you can also register your interest in becoming a plasma donor. Find out who can donate plasma: https://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/covid-19-research/plasma-donors/who-can-donate-plasma/

View and print bulletin Recuperating During the Pandemic – Bulletin