Theo Usherwood's powerful coronavirus message from hospital: Please stay at home

23 March 2020, 13:53 | Updated: 24 March 2020, 08:28

By Adrian Sherling

Theo Usherwood has been in hospital for a week suffering from pneumonia and suspected coronavirus. This is his powerful message to everyone: stay home or the NHS won't be able to cope.

LBC's political editor has been missed from the airwaves over the last couple of weeks after falling ill and, speaking to James O'Brien, he paid tribute to the NHS staff who saved his life.

And he urged people to stay at home and obey social distancing guidelines because if the NHS becomes over-run, they won't be able to give patients the treatment that they need.

He told LBC: "On Thursday, it was very difficult and they couldn't find a solution. The drugs weren't working and it was very serious.

"But the doctors kept going. They were like codebreakers.

"This wasn't medicine by ticking a box or by numbers. They were operating on a completely different level, trying stuff, trying to figure out how they could save my life.

James O'Brien had a very emotional call with Theo Usherwood
James O'Brien had a very emotional call with Theo Usherwood. Picture: LBC

"And they can't do that if there is chaos and pandemonium. They simply can't function like that.

"If there is pandemonium, they won't be able to fix that person who comes in necessarily."

Theo's call had listeners in tears.

Listen to the full, emotional call at the top of the page.

James O'Brien's callers praise EU deal

James O'Brien's callers praise EU deal

Brexiteer calls James O’Brien ‘to see how many times he’d be interrupted’

Brexiteer calls James O’Brien ‘to see how many times he’d be interrupted’

LBC caller warns that graduates risk becoming 'economic slaves'

LBC caller warns that graduates risk becoming 'economic slaves'

Fishing Industry Consultant debunks 'complete lies' about water pollution

Fishing industry consultant tells James O'Brien we were 'lied to' about water pollution

James O'Brien callers feel 'targeted' by Labour's immigration rhetoric

James O'Brien's callers feel 'targeted' by Labour's immigration rhetoric

James O'Brien is joined by Sadiq Khan to take your calls

Speak to Sadiq: Mayor of London joins James O'Brien to take your calls

LBC caller blames migration for NHS waiting times

LBC caller blames migration for NHS waiting times

Trade deals, conclave and Reform UK: LBC’s best callers of the week

Trade deals, conclave and Reform UK: LBC’s best callers of the week

'Vance saw Francis... we might be onto something'

LBC caller jokes that JD Vance's visit to the late pope might've paved the way for an American pope

"Things have to get a little bit dirty"

Caller Alexander thinks that "things have to get dirty" to stop Reform

'They've alienated every single subsection of society'

Caller Phil ruthlessly describes a Labour Party that 'doesn't appeal to anyone'

Caller Peter shares why 'we must remember VE Day'

Caller Peter shares why 'we must remember VE Day'

James O'Brien asks: ‘how does Nigel Farage get away with it?’

James O'Brien asks: ‘how does Nigel Farage get away with it?’

James O’Brien is ‘fascinated’ by caller Will’s story on finding faith

James O’Brien is ‘fascinated’ by caller Will’s story on finding faith

LBC caller impresses James O'Brien and listeners with her analysis of the 'new world order'

LBC caller impresses James O'Brien with her analysis of the 'new world order'

Should the UK take a Canadian approach to dealing with Trump?

LBC callers: Should the UK take a Canadian approach to dealing with Trump?