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Doctor captures extraordinary behind-the-scenes photos of hospital’s battle against coronavirus

The photos taken by Dr Matthew Jones of the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough (Picture: PA)
The photos were taken by Dr Matthew Jones at the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough. (PA)

A doctor has captured extraordinary behind-the-scenes photos of a hospital’s battle against coronavirus.

Dr Matthew Jones’s images show the “courage” and “commitment” of his colleagues at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough during the outbreak.

Medial staff across the country were under huge strain as cases peaked in April.

Dr Jones said: “The atmosphere in the intensive care unit was amazing.

“You sensed the strong bonds that existed between them all, a real spirit of care for each other’s welfare.”

The photos taken by Dr Matthew Jones of the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough (Picture: PA)
The images capture the 'courage' and 'commitment' of hospital staff. (PA)
The photos taken by Dr Matthew Jones of the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough (Picture: PA)
Hospital staff were under huge pressure during the peak of coronavirus. (PA)
The photos taken by Dr Matthew Jones of the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough (Picture: PA)
(PA)
The photos taken by Dr Matthew Jones of the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough (Picture: PA)
(PA)

Dr Jones added: “I think the photos do a little justice to the stresses and pressure of the environment, but also the immense humanity on display as staff made such an effort to build bonds with the patients despite the obstacles they faced.

“To spend the time they did in personal protective equipment and in such heightened stress and emotion was an incredible effort, and to do so with humour, good spirit and such team spirit even more so.”

The photos taken by Dr Matthew Jones of the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough (Picture: PA)
(PA)
The photos taken by Dr Matthew Jones of the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough (Picture: PA)
(PA)
Photos taken by Dr Matthew Jones of the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough (Picture: PA)
(PA)
Photos taken by Dr Matthew Jones of the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough (Picture: PA)
(PA)

Dr Jones decided to document what was happening in the critical care unit, having worked in South Sudan in 2018 where he used photography to understand the experience of working in an environment where things happened so quickly.

He said: “It gave a means to pause and reflect and find answers, and continues to do so even now.

“I wanted to offer that simple resource to staff in intensive care at James Cook, so they could process events and move forward with a sense of what they had achieved.”

Photos taken by Dr Matthew Jones of the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough (Picture: PA)
(PA)
Photos taken by Dr Matthew Jones of the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough (Picture: PA)
(PA)
Photos taken by Dr Matthew Jones of the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough (Picture: PA)
(PA)
Photos taken by Dr Matthew Jones of the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough (Picture: PA)
(PA)
Photos taken by Dr Matthew Jones of the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough (Picture: PA)
(PA)
Photos taken by Dr Matthew Jones of the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough (Picture: PA)
(PA)

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