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.

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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.

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"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."

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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."

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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.