‘We are becoming overwhelmed’: Rita Ora’s mother Vera returns to the NHS frontline amid COVID-19

Rita Ora’s mother Vera is returning to the NHS frontline amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The healthcare professional is a psychiatrist and former GP, but revealed she will be lending support to A&E staff as they battle with the influx of coronavirus cases. 

Taking to Instagram on Monday, the 55-year-old doctor, uploaded a video explaining her decision to return as she urged her followers to stay at home to help stop the spread of the virus. 

Flashing her NHS card, Vera announced: ‘My name is Vera Ora and I’m a psychiatrist. 

‘I’m going back to work tomorrow – I work with mental health patients, however, due to the pressure on the NHS I will be asked to go to the frontline to help with A&E and other departments.

‘It’s a very dangerous time and not everyone is being safe and staying at home and we are becoming overwhelmed with patients coming through and putting everyone at risk.’

She added: ‘Please stay at home and follow the guidelines so I can help, and everyone else can help you be safe. Love you all.’

Vera’s announcement comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged any doctors or nurses who quit or retired in the past three years to return to help tackle COVID-19.

NHS officials have not put a figure on the number of former doctors and nurses they expect to bring back, but Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he hoped to ‘get our hands on as many as possible’. 

Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty warned last week that London hospitals would soon be under severe pressure. 

He claimed measures such as social distancing and school closures intended ‘to pull down the peak’ of cases would take time to have an effect. 

‘Even if everybody does all the things we hope they will do, the numbers will continue to go up over the next two weeks,’ he said.

Meanwhile, Vera’s daughter Rita has also been doing her bit to help in the battle against coronavirus. 

As the singer has no medical experience, she has been using her platform to help raise awareness and funds to tackle the virus. 

Rita has been promoting T-shirts and hoodies with a green and red printed logo and text that reads: ‘Stop the spread, play your part.’

Alongside a post, Rita explained that proceeds from the merchandise would go towards the UN Foundation and the World Health Organisation’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.

She wrote: ‘In case you haven’t heard, I’ve launched #StopTheSpread merch campaign with and in support of @UNfoundation and @WHO!!! ALL proceeds go to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.

‘If you want to do something about Covid-19 stay safe and clean, and Play Your Part by getting this merch and helping the cause!! Link on my stories and in my bio right now, we can do this together.’

In a statement, Rita said: ‘Covid-19 is impacting the world in a way none of us could have imagined.

‘Over the last few months we have watched this virus spread throughout the world not quite understanding its impact. I think by now we all understand that this is something that is having and will continue to have devastating effects on everyone.

Rita explained how she contacted Sir Bob Geldof for advice on how she could make a difference in the fight against the virus.