COVID-19: Health Minister Robin Swann looks back on the most challenging year in NHS history
EXCLUSIVE: 12 months on from Northern Ireland's first covid case
Last updated 24th Feb 2021
It is almost a year to the day since covid-19 arrived in Northern Ireland. Here NIGEL GOULD speaks EXCLUSIVELY to Health Minister ROBIN SWANN who reflects on an extraordinary 12 months
It is a day Health Minister Robin Swann will never forget ...
It was on February 27 2020 when he learned that Northern Ireland had its very first case of coronavirus.
Looking back he says nothing could have prepared them for what would happen next.
"Look Nigel for what actually followed, I don't thing there was a health service across the Western world was prepared for what came when we saw the number of cases," he told Downtown Radio & Cool FM.
The Health Minister recalled being shocked by the initial footage in hospitals in Europe.
But he said he was determined this would not be the case in Northern Ireland.
"I remember seeing those images coming out of Italy and Spain, you know people lying in corridors, the lack of ventilators," he said.
"There was a determination here across our health service in Northern Ireland that, that was not going to happen to us."
Mr Swann also reflected on how he had to make extreme decisions so the health service could deal with the pandemic.
"So we did take drastic steps in the first wave in regards to what procedures, what supports we actually stood down ... how we reconfigured our health service to prepare us," he said.
The Minister went on to say that he stood by decisions taken on dealing with the onslaught of coronavirus in Northern Ireland.
During the year we had both full severe lockdowns and circuit-breakers, introduced to keep the R-rate of infection on an even keel.
Mr Swann said such actions were important, given where we are now.
"There's a lot that has been learned," he said. "And I think the population has understood and understands now that their participation in the challenging things we asked them to do actually have a benefit."
Paying tribute to healthcare workers across Northern Ireland, the Minister said all of them were now very "tired" after what was the most difficult year ever for the Health Service.
"The first wave we managed on adrenaline," he said. "I think this phase they (healthcare staff) are managing on determination and a dedication to support the patients," he said.
The Minister also thanked everyone who played their part over the year - and he had a special message for those businesses forced to close their doors in lockdown.
"I do not underestimate the sacrifices they're making not just professionally but personally as well," he told us
"This is a highly strenuous time for everyone but the sacrifices they're making is having a large impact on our health service to support the people who need it most."