A great mix of nominations this time: proud to be recognised. Keep them coming – everyone appears in our ESTEEM gallery
Great to kick off with music therapist, Marianne Rizkallah and North London Music Therapy who moved into action to provide phone support to NHS and front line key workers at a time of acute need. Word spread via social media and the service is expanding into aftercare and support for people affected by COVID-19.
We’ve had lots of nominations this time from the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust. Deb Lowe, imaging manager and the ‘fantastic’ imaging team, who at the height of the crisis were getting chest x-rays done (often portably in full PPE) and reported within 16 minutes.
Their speech and language therapists led by Jenny Glynn have been brilliant. ‘The team have been amazing, being redeployed to help with the proning of ventilated COVID patients. They took on-board this difficult challenge guided by their passionate manager!’
Lorraine Allchurch, assistant therapy practitioner, with their therapy services team, transformed services at phenomenal speed, upskilling staff to join the ITU proning teams: a whole team collaboration across acute, community and out-patients.
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust has three nominations. It gives special mention to occupational therapist Rachel Norris, a welcoming presence on intensive care, helping the team with delirium management, orientation and rehabilitation. ‘I can’t imagine successful ITU rehab without a permanent OT in critical care.’
Their operating department practitioners have been absolutely incredible, being redeployed into intensive care. They have been willing to learn, shown adaptability, resilience and dedication — showing what it means to pull together during this time.
And special mention to physiotherapist Ed Williams, outstanding clinically and great at boosting team morale despite having had to postpone his marriage to a nurse also working in the crisis.
Praise for the whole therapies team at Liverpool Heart & Chest who have worked tirelessly and professionally by providing their own specialities but also by supporting nursing and medical colleagues. They have shown great strength and resilience, with an unwavering morale that is continuing as they make changes to community services and research plans to inform practice.
The paediatric therapy team at Central Surrey Health and First Community Health and Care – speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy – have shown tremendous adaptability, determination and much creativity, by fully embracing technology to ensure children and families continue to receive support.
Inspirational Alyson Williams, critical care physiotherapist, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust led physiotherapists and other healthcare professionals in the Nightingale Hospital, Belfast, bringing together a team of very anxious physios and upskilling them, giving them confidence and competence to work with acutely Ill COVID patients.
Caroline Thompson, manager, and the hard working microbiology lab team of biomedical scientists at NHS Borders met the huge challenge for a small lab in a rural hospital to introduce two different systems for COVID-19 PCR testing, verifying new equipment to required standards while maintaining a routine service.
Within two weeks, Hannah Hunt, unit manager, lung function and sleep apnoea, Cardiff & Vale, and the small team of physiologists trained 200 staff across two sites to administrate CPAP therapy appropriately and safely. Then they transformed their normal service into a ‘drive through,’ which meant patients could attend for their appointment without having to leave their car.
And finally Raza Latasha, oncology medicine management clinical trials pharmacy technician, has nominated the whole of Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust: ‘The hospital turned into one person, one hand and one heart, for the benefit of staff and patients.’
If you would like to nominate your team or a colleague, go to https://ahawards.co.uk/esteem/
Since we launched our phone support service, we’ve spoken to many nurses up and down the country caring for #COVID19 patients and doing an incredible job under significant increased stress. Today is also Florence Nightingale’s 200th birthday. #InternationalNursesDay2020 pic.twitter.com/b75lG1k0Lv
— North London Music Therapy (@NLmusictherapy) May 12, 2020