A HOSPITAL consultant and talented photographer has documented the coronavirus pandemic in the Royal Bournemouth Hospital through his images.
Ray McCrudden, a consultant gastroenterologist, was given unlimited access to all departments as the hospital battled Covid-19 over the last year.
After long shifts on the frontline, Ray spent many hours capturing the drama and emotion of the crisis through a lens.
And now his pictures have been released to the public.
Ray, who was appointed as a consultant in 2003, has been a keen photographer since he was a child and was asked if would take pictures for the hospital and for a Channel 4 documentary.
He said: "The theme I wanted to portray was that of the unsung hero. Of course the hospital has doctors and nurses who are totally dedicated but there are a lot of other people too.
"Cooks, cleaners, clerks and admin staff were all scared and anxious about coronavirus but they turned up for work every day.
"It has been a great privilege to be able to photograph those working in the hospital and what they have been through."
- Read more: Looking back a year: Bournemouth seafront and gardens deserted as people stay at home
Ray said staff almost reached breaking point in January when they had more than 400 inpatients with the virus and a shortage of intensive care beds, mortuary space and staff.
"It was a frightening time but it is much better than that now. It is easy to learn about things like shutter speeds on a camera but it is harder to show people's emotions."
Ray took hundreds of photographs illustrating the pressure staff and patients have been under in the hospital.
They show hospital wards, theatres, hospital staff and patients.
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