News of Sunanda (Jimmy) Wickramasinghe

#boldertogether Over the next few weeks, we're talking to our brilliant Bolder generation about coronavirus; sharing coping strategies, ideas for staying at home more often, reading recommendations and far more. For today's edition we spoke to Dr Jimmy Wickers, 79, who qualified in medicine in Sri Lanka. He works as a GP at his practice in Stockwell and is currently self-isolating at home in London.

7th April 2020

“Being almost 80 with diabetes, I am in a high-risk category, so I am following the government guidelines of self-isolation very strictly. But I am not scared, I am very fortunate; I see sickness and death so regularly that I learned many years ago that death is part of life. My son had Covid-19 in Zurich which was a stress for us, but he is recovering now. I think everyone is trying to make the best of what is an unsettling period.

It has been heartwarming to see the public acknowledgement of my millions of colleagues in the NHS; it is important to show appreciation of those who are putting themselves on the frontline. I hope that after this crisis we ensure that society reframes the way they see these key workers and the politicians have a more progressive debate on how to protect this Great British asset.

Work wise, I am staying busy and I am able to do consultations by phone. Of course it is difficult to replicate the human experience, but technology is an enabler and post the crisis, I think we will see more and more online health services and the increased empowerment of patients through digital devices.

My father was a big advocate of meditation and I would recommend some form of meditative practice each morning. It engages our brains with our bodies and enables a clear reset. My children show me apps and online tutorials that can help with this; the best known is Headspace which is offering sessions for free during this period. Of course, try to do some physical exercise each day which is also good for the body, mind and soul. I also recommend that people try and keep a routine; go to bed and get up at similar times and organise your day in a structured way.

My daughter uses social media a lot for her work and of course in the current climate, people are spending more time than ever on these platforms. But be wary of media content that can be panic-inducing and out-of-proportion with the reality of the current situation. Use technology as an enabler rather than a controller of behaviour. Take this time to connect with your friends and family.

We have recently learned that Boris Johnson has been admitted to hospital, so I hope he recovers rapidly. My book recommendation is “The Churchill Factor,” Johnson’s biography of Winston Churchill, which seems highly appropriate now in terms of understanding leadership within a crisis.”