Claire Byrne has been praised by viewers for her latest ‘Claire Byrne Live‘ broadcast which was filmed outside the Mater Hospital in Dublin.
Initially, Claire and her team were met with many messages of disapproval from the public, with most fearing that the choice was both ‘tone-deaf’ and ‘dangerous’.
Despite the backlash, the show went ahead in the planned location, with viewers who tuned in soon changing their minds on the situation. On the show, Claire was joined by frontline workers including doctors and nurses, who spoke about the virus and the current toll it is taking on the Irish healthcare system.
Frontline ICU nurse Róisín McCourt on the importance of keeping your guard up at all times #covid19 #cblive pic.twitter.com/D2sIrv1Pxx
— Claire Byrne Live (@ClaireByrneLive) January 11, 2021
In one report, viewers were given a look at the ventilators inside the hospital, explaining how they are used to treat extremely ill patients. Two nurses Ciara Nother and Roisin McCourt shared their accounts of how the profile of patients is changing, with many more young and healthy people now being left fighting for their lives.
“Over the last number of weeks, we are seeing a lot more younger patients coming to us. The profile of the patients has certainly changed.”
“It has changed a lot from the first surge. These patients are getting very, very sick, despite being so young.”
“A lot of them would have been very healthy,” they continued.
“It is 30s, 40s, 50s. Whereas the first time around, it was the elderly population and people felt separated from it, that they wouldn’t get it.
‘It is all younger now and people are shocked when we tell them that they have it and that they’re this sick.”
Shocked by what they were hearing, viewers immediately took to social media to share their praise for both Claire and the frontline workers, with many saying that this may be the reality check the country needs.
“Tonight’s programme is a stark reminder of why we’re all staying at home to keep safe. These are seriously difficult times #covid #cblive” one person wrote.
#cblive Thought Claire Byrne live was fantastic tonight and really reiterated what we all need to do to help the health service .
— ♥♥Laura ♥♥ (@Scullyl) January 11, 2021
Thank you to all who appeared on #CBLive tonight and all the people they represent – the nurses, hospital doctors, GPs, porters, gardaí, prison officers, homeless outreach workers, social workers, mental health professionals. We are forever in your debt.
— Philip Nolan (@philipnolan1) January 11, 2021
While another said: “All these ‘outraged’ people giving out about Claire Byrne Live yet this is probably one of the most important current affairs shows this year giving a voice to medics on the frontline of this mess we have made.”
If you missed last night’s show you can catch it again anytime on RTE Player.