'I Can't Sit Here Doing Nothing' - The Medics Rejoining The NHS To Fight Coronavirus

Updated: See the latest stories on the coronavirus outbreak.

“When you become a doctor, you take an oath and when something like this happens, you have to stand up and do whatever they need you to do,” says Dr Tijion Esho.

He is just one of thousands of retired and former NHS workers who have signed up to support the UK’s national effort to tackle the coronavirus crisis.

Letters were sent out to more than 65,000 doctors and nurses pleading for them to return to the NHS to boost frontline services during the Covid-19 pandemic.

At least 12,000 retired NHS staff have since pledged to return to the service including 2,660 doctors, more than 2,500 pharmacists and other staff and 6,147 nurses. Around 5,500 final year medics and 18,700 final-year student nurses will also be moving to the frontline.

HuffPost UK spoke to some of the people returning to the NHS in crucial frontline work to find out why they felt compelled to play their part in the war against coronavirus.

The Private Surgeon Returning After His Baby Became Seriously Ill

Dr Tijion Esho began his medical career in the NHS working as a surgeon in aesthetics and plastic surgery before making the decision to leave the service and set up his own private practice.

He is now a successful and award winning cosmetic doctor with clinics in London, Newcastle and Dubai, and has achieved television fame on Bodyshockers with Katie Piper and E4’s Body Fixers.

But all that faded into insignificance when Esho’s baby son Roman suddenly became ill and was admitted to hospital with suspected coronavirus.

Esho, 38, told HuffPost UK how the harrowing experience with his son opened up his eyes to the reality of the crisis facing the NHS and he knew he had to do everything in his power to help.

“When you are at home or in your private clinic, you are...

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