#study nursing in UK

[edinway]

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[studywiseinternational]

Study Nursing in the UK | Discover Career Opportunities and Costs

There are several benefits to study nursing in the UK if you want to further your education abroad. You will also be given a top-notch medical education and a diploma in nursing from around the world.

[bizzeducation]

[rheinkonsultant]

Why studying abroad is better than studying in India

Studying abroad and studying in India each have their own advantages and disadvantages, and what is “better” depends on individual circumstances, preferences, and goals. Here are some key differences and advantages of studying abroad compared to studying in India:

1. International Exposure: – Studying abroad provides an opportunity to experience a different culture, language, and way of life, which can broaden your horizons and enhance your global perspective. – Exposure to a diverse international community can help you build a global network and develop intercultural skills that are increasingly valuable in a globalized world.

2. Quality of Education: – Some universities abroad, particularly in countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, are renowned for their high-quality education and research facilities. You may have access to cutting-edge resources and faculty. – While India has many prestigious educational institutions, the quality of education can vary significantly, and some students may find that studying abroad offers a more consistent standard of education.

3. Specialized Programs: – Many countries offer specialized programs and courses that may not be available in India. This is particularly important for fields like certain branches of engineering, technology, and specific sciences. – Students who have very specific career goals or academic interests may find that studying abroad allows them to pursue their studies more comprehensively.

4. Language Skills: – Studying in a non-English speaking country can provide an excellent opportunity to improve language skills. Learning a new language can be a valuable skill for both personal and professional development. – If you choose to study in an English-speaking country, you can enhance your proficiency in the global lingua franca.

5. Cultural Immersion: – Living in a foreign country allows you to immerse yourself in a different culture, which can be a transformative experience. You can gain a deeper understanding of the culture, history, and traditions of the host country. – This cultural immersion can lead to personal growth, increased tolerance, and a broader worldview.

6. Independence and Self-Reliance: – Studying abroad often requires students to become more self-reliant, responsible, and independent. You’ll have to navigate daily life in a foreign country, which can build valuable life skills. – This independence can be a great asset in your future career and personal life.

7. Career Opportunities: – Graduates with international exposure often have an advantage in the job market. Employers may value the diverse perspectives, adaptability, and global network that studying abroad can provide. – Some countries offer post-study work visas, which allow international students to gain work experience after completing their education.

However, it’s important to consider the potential drawbacks of studying abroad, such as higher costs, homesickness, and the challenges of adapting to a new environment. Additionally, the choice between studying abroad and studying in India depends on your financial situation, academic goals, personal preferences, and the specific programs and institutions you’re interested in.

Ultimately, the decision should be based on your individual circumstances and what aligns best with your long-term educational and career aspirations. It’s a decision that should be carefully considered and based on your own goals and priorities.

Also read: – Germany Is Now World’s 3rd Most Popular Study Destination

[newboundsimmigration]

Seize Your Opportunity at Winchester University UK: Apply Now for September Intake and Shape Your Academic Journey in the Heart of England!

Contact – 7065791239

[joe-talks]

Nursing in the UK for International Students

Welcome to another University admission blog (UK), where I will share valuable insights about studying nursing in the UK for international students. If you are considering a career in nursing and have your sights set on the UK, you’re in the right place. This comprehensive guide will provide information on eligibility requirements, admission processes, scholarships, job prospects, the cost of…

[myglobaluni]

Study BSc Nursing in the United Kingdom - Nursing is amongst the most honourable professions in the world, and with the ever-growing scope of healthcare, if you want to study BSc Nursing in the United Kingdom, read this blog post to learn about all your query for BSc Nursing.

[nurse-floyd]

Carlos Motherfucking Sainz

This man. I cannot. Also, these men also keep putting my love of nursing and my love of F1 together so let's get into it! How did Carlos Sainz manage to win 2 weeks after having an appendectomy?

In the UK, at least, you can leave the hospital the same day you've have an appendectomy as long as there are no complications as long is it was done laparoscopically and there were no complications (burst appendix etc)

Carlos had his appendix removed laparoscopically (which I predicted considering how quickly he was back at the paddock to watch the Grand Prix!) you can tell by the incisions - 3 small ones for the camera and tools rather than one long incision for an open appendectomy.

Usually after an appendectomy you can go back to work after 1-2 weeks. IF YOU HAVE A NON-PHYSICAL JOB. We know this man was back training and strengthening as soon as he could. You can usually start to work out after 2 weeks, depending on wound healing. Those sit ups would have been agony!

That alone would have had him in a lot of pain, let alone the amount of g-force the drivers encounter when they're driving around the circuits - up to 5G in some cases. That's 5x their body weight.

On his latest Instagram post you can see him in a weird glass tube - this presumably is a hyperbaric chamber. There are multiple studies investigating the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the speedier healing of surgical wounds and reduction of post-operative infection.

In short, this type of therapy can reduce inflammation and boost the formation of white blood cells (the cells that protect the body against infection and defend it from attack of unknown organisms) to improve healing and lower the risk of infection.

Overall, we know he wouldn't have been able to drive unless he was safe to and he said himself they made sure he could get out of his car in the required time and padded his wound and made adjustments to ensure his comfort but you could see the pain he was in after and Lando helping onto the podium.

That man deserves his seat.

[aimchase]

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[welldonekhushi]

Vampyr OC: Anastasia Graham 🏥

Introducing you all to a new OC, everyone! My head has been constantly brainstorming with ideas to create a new character based on the game I'm currently posting content with. So, here's what you can know about them, under the cut!

Currently for the bio, I've only used Picrews to describe Anastasia's appearance, but sooner or later I'll draw her in my style and update it all!

GENERAL:

Name: Anastasia

Full name: Anastasia Graham

Alias(es): Anna (by her family, and Dr. Reid), Annie (by the patients)

Age: 25 years old

Gender: Female

Nationality: British (UK)

Languages spoken: English, a bit of French (learnt from her mother who briefly served during the war)

Place of Birth: Birmingham, England

Species: Human

Sexuality: Heterosexual

Marital Status: Single

Occupation: Nurse at Pembroke Hospital

Current residence: Whitechapel

Status: Active

Faceclaim: Freya Mavor

(She mostly wears two braids to the hospital but when she's at home, she has her hair open like in the pictures!)

Biography: Anastasia Graham, an aspiring nurse with hopes of making a mark in medical studies, faces numerous challenges as she begins her career at Pembroke Hospital amid the deadly Spanish Flu epidemic.

PERSONALITY:

Myers-Briggs Type: ISFJ (The Defender)

Compassionate and kind: One defining characteristic of Anastasia is her deep compassion and kindness towards her patients, often referred to as a “hope restored.” Her mere presence brings light to those in the hospital, uplifting spirits even amid the bleak conditions caused by the flu’s impact on the city.

Emotional: The loss of her patients profoundly affects Anastasia, breaking her heart and making her feel as though she has failed in her duty as a nurse. She struggles to cope with these intense emotions, but with the guidance of Dorothy Crane, she is learning to be resilient and to maintain hope, even in the face of loss when there is nothing more she can do.

Cautious: Due to a traumatic vampire attack in her youth that nearly cost her life, Anastasia approaches the world with caution. She often fears walking alone, haunted by the possibility that someone might be following her. To protect herself, she keeps the knife her father gave her, always prepared to defend herself if necessary.

THEME:

AFFILIATIONS:

Graham Family

Henry Graham (Father, deceased)

Amelia Graham (Mother, alive)

Eleanor Graham (Aunt, alive)

Alfred Graham (Uncle, alive)

Pembroke Hospital

Dr. Jonathan Reid (Colleague, Love Interest)

Dr. Thoreau Strickland (Colleague #2)

Dr. Edgar Swansea (Employer, Administrator of Pembroke Hospital)

Dorothy Crane (Mentor)

Gwyneth Branagan (Mentor #2)

Pippa Hawkins (Distant Cousin)

Lady Ashbury (Friend, when she visits the hospital often)

More facts about her in detail, through this post!

BACKGROUND STORY:

Anastasia Graham was born in Birmingham to Henry and Amelia Graham. Her father, a dedicated member of the Guard of Priwen—a society of vampire hunters—instilled in her an early sense of resilience, while her mother, a compassionate medic, inspired Anastasia's passion for healing. Determined to follow in her mother’s footsteps, Anastasia committed herself to the study of medicine from a young age.

Her life took a dark turn one evening when she was nearly attacked by a bloodthirsty vampire. She was saved just in time by a Priwen hunter, but the incident left a lasting impression on her. To help her feel safe, her father entrusted her with a silver knife, a small but powerful symbol of protection should she ever face such danger again.

As she grew, Anastasia remained focused on her goal of becoming a nurse, eventually securing formal education in the medical field. This path led her to London during the height of the Spanish Flu epidemic, a devastating time that demanded all hands on deck in the healthcare sector. It was then that Dr. Edgar Swansea, who recognized her potential and the urgent need for additional medical staff, invited her to join the Pembroke Hospital team.

Under the mentorship of Dorothy Crane, Anastasia Graham dedicated herself to serving the patients of Pembroke Hospital, striving to emulate Dorothy’s own unwavering commitment to compassionate care. Despite the harsh conditions, she went to great lengths to ensure each patient was treated with dignity and that their needs were met. Yet, the onslaught of suffering patients as the Spanish Flu ravaged the city took a toll on her. With each new wave, the pain, fear, and despair around her intensified, and Anastasia began to feel overwhelmed. Though determined to stay strong, she found herself teetering on the edge of exhaustion.

One evening, while rushing through the dim, crowded halls of Pembroke, Anastasia noticed a new figure in the hospital. Tall and composed, he moved through the chaos with a calm, almost unearthly presence that commanded attention. He was a doctor, recently arrived and eager to join the fight against the epidemic. When their eyes met, Anastasia felt a strange sense of foreboding—and fascination. Unaware of the true nature of the man she was drawn to, she sensed that her life was about to take an irrevocable turn.

[moo9395]

My Ghosts headcanons

I've had these sitting in a google doc for ages so I might as well hand them over.

I've split them into stuff that 'could take place in canon' and 'modern au' stuff

Robin:

Fluent in multiple languages (kind of canon but whatever)

He has a PhD in astrophysics 

Humphrey:

He gets migraines

He’s a teacher (this is quite popular), Headteacher humphrey is cool as well

Failed his driving test 4 times in a row

Coffee gives Humphrey headaches so he drinks more of it. 

Mary:

She was a girl guide (me coded) (Credit to @kingofthefrogs swapped au for inspo)

Welsh (me coded)

Dyslexic

Kitty:

Can be heard on a spirit box (Credit to kingofthefrogs)

Likes Call the Midwife.

She is a Nurse or Doctor, possibly a paediatrician. Haven’t seen this done yet but I think it could be fun given her fascination with Maddocks’ injury.

She loves iced coffee.

Thomas:

He is scared of dogs (channeling me right now) Dante is a weird exception to this that Fanny often complains about but secretly is proud of.

He can experience temperature as a ghost. (Credit to Ailendolin) He is susceptible to heat stroke and sometimes gets a cold, especially after going in the lake.

He's left handed

He is dyslexic and/or short sighted. Bonus if he refuses to wear glasses. Double bonus if this gives him constant headaches.

Studied abroad in Holland for 2 years and developed a weed addiction, he moved back to the UK to get over it

Coffee gives Thomas headaches so he doesn’t drink it. 

Fanny:

Hypochondriac. 

Incredible at Netball (she's such a netball girlie) she plays wing attack or centre

Captain:

He has reading glasses.

Scared of chickens (Alektorophobia) (Inspired by @upsetslingshot on ao3)

Cap was in army cadets (me coded) and loved it.

Pat:

He's claustrophobic, he was in life and the fact that he died while struggling to breathe has worsened that.

He’s basically blind without his glasses. (like Velma type blind)

Road rage.

Julian:

Has hemophobia (fear of blood)

Julian was in army cadets and hated it.

Multi Character (mostly modern au stuff):

Thomas, Fanny, and Mary love watching Downton Abbey. Thomas is a passionate fan of Edith, Mary likes Sybil, and Fanny is a big fan of Violet Crawley (as she should be).

All autistic (Julian and Robin AuDHD).

Cap, Thomas, Mary, and Julian are cat people

Pat, Robin, and Fanny are dog people

Humphrey and Kitty passionately refuse to pick a side.

Thomas, Cap, Pat, Fanny and Julian are tea people.

Humphrey, Kitty, Mary and Robin are coffee people.

Robin and Humphrey as siblings/ twins.

Thomas and Kitty met in school. Thomas was being picked on and Kitty defended him.

Julian and Robin met in Cambridge Uni, Robin was doing an astrophysics PhD, Julian was doing his classmates a masters in politics.

Cap and Fanny play badminton together.

They have a group football team (more on that later)

Mary and Robin hooked up once (I know its canon but I love when it also happens in modern au's)

Hogwarts houses:

Hufflepuff - Humphrey, Pat, Mary

Gryffindor - Robin, Julian

Ravenclaw - Fanny, Thomas, Kitty

Slytherin - Cap

I'm very willing to elaborate and hear other opinions on this.

Mario Kart mains:

Robin - Bowser

Humphrey - Shy Guy

Mary - Yoshi

Kitty - Daisy

Thomas - Peach

Fanny - Toadette

Captain - Luigi

Pat - Koopa Troopa

Julian - Donkey Kong

The football team (my pride and joy):

Robin - goalkeeper, he once scored from a goal kick

Humphrey - defence, very good at headers (lol) but is frequently injured mainly due to being clumsy

Kitty - defence, she gets very invested in the game and will break knees (while apologising) 

Cap - defence, it took him a while to pick up the sport but he’s thriving, works very well with Humphrey and Kitty

Thomas - surprisingly good left winger, other teams generally see him (being himself) before the game  and write him off as a weaker player - he loves proving them wrong

Fanny - right wing, her and thomas make a weirdly good duo, she's absolutely incredible at penalties 

Pat - central midfielder and the team captain (Cap conceded that maybe Pat was a little bit better than him at football and should take the lead ‘just this once’)

Mary - Striker, really strong with both feet, closes her eyes when she takes a shot but somehow is still usually on target 

Julian - Striker, solid player but is frequently sent off for inappropriate celebrations

I had way too much fun re-reading these.

PLEASE USE THEM AND SEND ME THE FICS IM OBSESSED.

[cookinguptales]

I got both my flu and covid shot yesterday so today I'm feeling. bad. lmao. But I also saw two movies and had fun at them both!

I'll make posts about both of them, but I guess I'll start with A Haunting in Venice because I have more thoughts about it, I think.

My non-spoilery thoughts are that I actually enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would! The ambiance was impeccable and I think I'd watch it again just to look at it. It was very pleasantly spooky, more than I'd expected, and despite not having watched the other films, I was able to easily follow along. A lot of the acting was super fun, and Michelle Yeoh was really hot, and it was a spooky ghost story! What more could you want?

(Except subtitles, I guess, because I missed a lot of dialogue. Much more than I usually do. Kenneth Branagh's fake French accent was particularly difficult to decipher.)

Two personal things, which I thought were funny. The children's song heard repeatedly in the movie, Giro Giro Tondo, creeped me out specifically because my mother gave me a doll when I was little that she'd gotten in Italy during a business trip, and when you held its hands it sang that song. I... have a bit of a doll phobia, so I did have a moment of OH NO, IT'S THIS BITCH.

The other is that I was able to figure out the mystery very quickly because of my own special interests, which was very funny to me. I'm sorry that I am too much the target audience for this movie. ;; More on that in a minute.

spoilers below the cut

It was interesting to hear after watching the movie that the original book took place in the UK because the central spookiness of the film did feel very Italian. The old ruined palazzo, the ruinous aftereffects of the Holocaust in Central Europe, the general Vibe. But most of the main characters aren't Italian, so I suppose it makes sense...

It was definitely much darker than I had expected it to be, from a human cruelty standpoint. The allusions to the Holocaust (both when discussing Dr. Ferrier's severe PTSD after liberating Bergen-Belsen and the Romani siblings who were orphaned and forced into very dire straits to survive) were very frank and graphically discussed, which isn't something you actually see in films as often these days, and the fact that impoverished orphan children really were purposefully murdered during the plague had... very familiar vibes after being from a high-risk (and easily dismissed) group during covid.

In the end, the movie ended up being as much about metaphorical ghosts as literal ones, and I can see how a writer struggling with her wartime experiences as a nurse would end up writing a story that so blatantly grapples with the soul of humanity -- and whether it's worth protecting. The medium comparing hearing the ghosts screaming to her time as a nurse during the war treating the suffering... It does make me think about Christie's own experiences, y'know? I haven't read the book, so idk how much of it was invented for the movie, but... it did make me think about her.

As for the mystery itself... I guess there are two things to know about me. One is that I studied mithridatism (and Mithridates himself) when writing fic for Arsenic and Old Lace for YT many years ago. The other is that I wrote an original f/f fic about poisonous beekeeping around the same period. It wasn't my best work, necessarily, but I'll tell you -- I know a lot about mad honey.

So let's just say that the suspense wasn't quite as suspenseful for me lmao. From the second that one woman say "Mithridates" I was pretty ready for what was coming next, and when I saw that she kept bees and everyone kept eating honey... I mean. lmao

That said, the fact that it was very difficult to tell whether the ghostly apparitions were hallucinations or real or some combination of the two was really fun and interesting.

With Christie's Thing for poisons... I guess it's interesting how much fo the movie was about food and hunger and how food can kill you if it's not the right kind -- and how love could go the same way. The discussion of the camp survivors in Germany dying after being given milk, the children being intentionally walled up and starved to death, the siblings eating "non-food", like mice, in order to survive after being orphaned during the war... And obviously the poisoned tea from a mother whose love itself had been poisoned.

And then, y'know, the metaphor flourishing when you see how love itself, twisted into madness, was the reason why so many people had suffered and died. Rowena's fear that her daughter would leave her, Alicia's agony that her fiancé had, Olga accidentally poisoning a child she loved because she was trying to soothe her, Ferrier accidentally poisoning the concentration camp survivors when trying to nurse them back to health, Leopold's desperate attempts to protect and support his father being the exact thing that got him killed...

I'm a little too tired to pull it together into a coherent thesis statement, but... The themes are layered here. Hunger for food and for love and for companionship. Poison being added to the things you think will nourish you and those you love. The desire to be seen, by those you love and those you respect and those who you fear have forgotten you...

You have Ariadne (great name for a spinner of mysteries, btw) using a friend in order to get back her adoring public. Both Maxim and Alicia desperate for the other's attention. Poor little Leo trying to soothe his father's PTSD and being parentified at far too young an age, but desperate to be seen for the marvel he is all at once.

And Alicia's ghost, obviously, reaching out to those she'd known in life and trying to get revenge on those who'd harmed her. She wanted to be seen, too, and she wanted to be understood.

I suppose that's what the whole movie comes down to. Love and understanding and the way it can be twisted horribly even as we crave it.

The movie wasn't perfect and I suspect the subject matter will be far too dark for people expecting something like Knives Out, but I did enjoy it far more than I thought it would. The vibes were genuinely very creepy and the mystery and characters were interesting. I haven't read the book, so I can't tell you how it stacks up there.

I think, sorry Kenneth Branagh, that his casting as Poirot was probably the weakest part of the movie for me. That said, the directing was so good that I at times found myself like "sir?? why not just direct these movies and let someone else play the lead????"

(see: the lin-manuel miranda effect)

But a lot of the other acting was very good, especially Michelle Yeoh who was very hot and very interesting in her role. Boy, I was SO sad when she was the first to die because I was like "OH NO, SHE WAS SO HOT..."

/shallow

Anyway, tl;dr it was a good movie for the spooky season, even if I suspect some of the subject matter will be difficult for people to handle. (Particularly the child death.) And even if you don't enjoy the writing, the footage of Venice and the overall vibes are impeccable so you can just turn off your brain and enjoy wandering through a spooky ruined palazzo.

[vikkrest]

I'm bored, so that's my vision on Nikolai (reboot ver.) Just random things without much depth and explanation

Was born on August 2, 1971 in Russia, in a small town near the military base. His father is Russian, capitan of tank division, his mother is from Tatarstan, she was a military nurse when she met her future husband.

Nikolai is a firstborn, has a younger sister (Anna) and had a brother (Miron), who was killed in 2005

Nikolai knows Russian (native) Tatar ( kinda-sorta native, C1) English (C1) Georgian (B2) Arabic (B1)

His mom begged her husband to name their first child a Tatar name, so her side of the family would be satisfied. I won't tell you what name they had picked. But it sure starts with N

He's an Orthodox Christian, so his younger siblings, was baptized in the name of Saint Nicholas, that's where "Nikolai" is from

His family moved a lot from base to base, according to where his father was being deployed. Nik changed at least 3 schools during his childhood, he made few friends here and there, still visits them on leaves when he has time

Was good at languages, physics and math in school. Had been reading about aviation a lot in his free time.

He haven't got into uni, instead got drafted into the USSR army, was serving without a fuss until he expressed dissatisfaction with the foreign policy of the USSR, and was recruited by MI6 as an informant. His father already retired at that point. That time he really struggled to keep in touch with his family.

In 2000 his sister married her fiance from Georgia, and in the same year Nik became an uncle to their firstborn son Mikel Mzechvili, in 2001 his niece Nino was born, then in 2004 - Gogi (my oc). In 2005 Natela was born and the last one to come was Davit, in 2006. All of the kids were born in Georgia, but often visited their grandparents in Russia

Just two days after Natela was born, Miron was killed at his friend's wedding. Nikolai couldn't make it to his funeral, because of the work overseas, this still haunts him.

After retiring from the army, he became an "adjuster" with valuable connections at the highest level and in the criminal world.

He met Laswell through MI-6 on one of the missions,she then introduced him to Price after some time that Nik and Kate spent working together. He was in his mid-20 at that time

Nikolai took Gogi under his wing when he got kicked out of uni, but was too scared to be drafted into the Russian army (because at that time he was a Russian citizen for a studying purpose). Nik, on the other hand, was scared that Makarov might get to him through his nephew, so after some time spent on bureaucracy he enlisted Gogi in UK army.

Knows a lot of "new Russians" Got a lot of intel and financial support from them (like, where the hell he would get a damn TANK or a helicopter??? Exactly!)

[covid-safer-hotties]

Get ready for some grade-A bullshit

How can they claim that these masks cause "facial ulcers" and "Breathing problems" when miners can wear P100 elastomeric masks underground for 4 to 8 hours at a time with no similar complaints?

Filed under 'ugly' on our archive (we also have a 'good' and a 'bad')

By Jim Reed

There is only “weak evidence” that high-grade face masks better protected health workers than surgical ones in the pandemic, the Covid inquiry has been told.

Prof Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said respirator masks – known as FFP3s – may have performed no better than thin surgical masks in real-life situations.

She said there could be “significant harms” from wearing tight-fitting FFP3s, including blisters and breathing difficulties.

“If the evidence was strong that FFP3s really protected people, and we saw a definitive reduction [in infections], they would have been recommended,” she said.

'Life and death' Not all scientists agree on what has become a controversial issue.

The BBC has previously reported on research which appears to show a significant real-world benefit from wearing higher-grade masks on hospital wards.

Throughout the first two years of the pandemic, groups representing doctors, nurses and other health workers repeatedly called for urgent improvements to personal protective equipment (PPE), including the wider use of respirators.

FFP3s are tight-fitting masks with a built-in air filter designed to block out tiny aerosol particles which can carry the virus.

Before they can be used, each wearer must undergo a fit test, to make sure the mask is properly sealed to the face.

For most of the pandemic, national guidance across the whole UK said that healthcare workers should wear basic surgical masks rather than FFP3s, except in intensive care or a small number of medical situations.

The decision was heavily criticised by some staff with the doctors’ union, the BMA, calling it a "matter of life and death".

National guidance on face masks from April 2020 was drawn up by a group of experts from across the United Kingdom known as the IP (Infection Prevention) Cell.

Its membership included representatives from the NHS, government departments and health bodies, including Public Health England (PHE), the organisation replaced by UKHSA in 2021 in a shake-up ordered by then-Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

The inquiry was shown minutes from an IP Cell meeting on 22 December 2020, just after the new Alpha variant of Covid had been detected, which appeared to show disagreement about the use of higher-grade FFP3 masks.

The records quote Dr Colin Brown, now the deputy director of clinical and emerging infections at UKHSA but at the time with PHE, as saying: "Our understanding of aerosol transmission has changed. A precautionary approach to move to FFP3 masks [in all healthcare settings] whilst we are awaiting evidence should be advised."

However, the wider IP Cell decided that no upgrading of the guidance was warranted at the time, and NHS trusts were told to continue to supply staff with standard surgical masks in almost all cases outside intensive care.

It was not until January 2022 that the advice changed, saying that FFP3 respirators "must be worn" by all staff if they are caring for patients with a virus such as Covid, and should be offered to other staff depending on a risk assessment.

By that point, the World Health Organization, and other health bodies, had recognised Covid could be spread in tiny airborne particles over distances longer than 6.5ft (2m), something officials said was impossible at the start of the pandemic.

Prof Hopkins, who served as PHE’s chief Covid adviser before moving across to UKHSA, told the inquiry that FFP3 masks offered a high degree of protection in laboratory studies, but the real-world benefits were less clear-cut.

“Where we looked at it, and repeatedly looked at it and are still looking at it, the evidence is weak that FFP3s protected more than fluid-resistant surgical masks,” she said.

“At the outset, in March 2020, the risks were that we had never asked people to wear FFP3 masks for prolonged periods.

“We saw them get ulcers on their faces and having challenges breathing and challenges in being hydrated.”

'Groupthink' Asked about the December 2020 IP Cell minutes, which suggested PHE was pushing behind-the-scenes for the wider use of respirator masks in healthcare, Prof Hopkins said that was a "really challenging time" in the pandemic with the UK about to enter a third wave of the virus.

“The fact that PHE was giving and airing a different view is an example of [us] not being involved in groupthink,” she said.

The Covid inquiry is currently taking evidence about the impact on the NHS and healthcare systems across all four nations of the UK.

More than 50 witnesses are expected to appear in this third section or "module", which runs until the end of November.