Melbourne ICU nurse Michelle Spence warns Covid-19 patients who require ventilator suffer long-term symptoms

An ICU nurse who silenced viewers with her Covid-19 plea at Sunday’s Victorian press conference has had more to say about the dangers of not getting vaccinated.

A Melbourne nurse who silenced the press on Sunday when she detailed the grim scenes inside an ICU ward during Covid-19 has warned of the long-term effects linked to patients who require a ventilator.

Michelle Spence, works as a nursing manager at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, and on Sunday emotionally described the experience of healthcare workers as Victoria’s Covid-19 situation escalates.

ICU nurse Michelle Spence further warned the public about the dangers of not getting vaccinated. Picture: ABC

On Monday, she further warned the public about the dangers of not getting vaccinated as patients grappled with long-term symptoms after their admission from hospital.

“People are getting over Covid-19 and they are getting out of ICU, but there are long-term medical consequences of being on a ventilator for two weeks, being in ICU or having long-Covid,” she told ABC on Monday morning.

“We haven‘t got the evidence out of Delta yet, but no doubt with Covid last year, the long Covid effects of fatigue, people can’t return to work who have cardiac issues.

“This will come with Delta as it did last year, so even though they are young, they will have a long journey ahead of them.”

Michelle Spence, nursing manager at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, emotionally described the experience of healthcare workers as Victoria’s Covid-19 situation escalates. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

Ms Spence again pleaded with the community to get vaccinated, saying it was the only way to prevent sick people being rushed to hospital en-masse.

“We will make as many beds as we need to make but we can’t do it this alone,” she said.

“We need people to do the right thing, follow the rules for the next few weeks and take the opportunity to please get the vaccine.

“That is your card out of it, our card out of it, and hopefully in the next few weeks we will have freedom and everyone will have the opportunity to live our lives.”

As of Sunday, across Victoria there were 476 people being treated for coronavirus in hospitals, 98 of which were in ICU. Picture: David Caird

As of Sunday, across Victoria there were 476 people being treated for coronavirus in hospitals, 98 of whom were in ICU.Of those in ICU, 57 were on ventilators.

Victoria recorded 1377 new coronavirus cases on Monday, with Melbourne officially becoming the most locked-down city in the world.

The Department of Health confirmed four more deaths in the past 24 hours.