They were told their country needed them, and they stepped up. Almost 12,000 recently retired NHS staff have responded to a Government call to return to the front line, including 2,660 doctors and 6,147 nurses.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “I pay tribute to each and every one of those who is returning to the NHS at its hour of need.” Here, ten NHS heroes explain why they stepped up to help. Intensive Care nurse Christie Watson, 43, is afraid of going back to face the disease.
She began nursing at 17 and spent most of her career in paediatric intensive care in London hospitals. The single mum of two teenagers came off the register 18 months ago to work as a writer, speaker and teacher but will now return to join adult intensive