Some amazing accounts this time of AHPs moving out of their usual roles to do whatever needs doing to cope with the COVID-19 crisis. We summarise them here, but read the full stories in the ESTEEM gallery.
Gareth Lloyd-Hughes, head of podiatry and orthotics, tells us about the ALAC super-vizor team at Betsi Cadwaladr where the orthotists, new to medical visors, moved quickly to design and make visors for front-line staff. They made hundreds a day for 5 weeks until a formal supply was in place.
Christine Hurley, professional lead podiatry, Virgin Care NHS in Bath and her team have come together to support high risk patients, community nursing teams and each other and are now developing a strategy for the return to fully operational clinics in a safe and sustainable way.
We’ve heard lots from speech and language therapists in Wales.
The paediatric speech and language language therapy team at Swansea Bay – Gemma Roblin, Emily Gough, Bobby Foley, Cerys Lane, and Stephanie Blanks – were first to volunteer after basic HCA training. Supporting front-line nursing care, they are highly praised for their commitment, adaptability and professionalism.
Liz McKinney and the paediatric speech and language therapy team at Betsi Cadwaladr were re-deployed into roles far removed from their usual. While continuing to remotely support vulnerable children, they took on roles in wards, as health care support workers, Test, Track and Trace, field hospital receptionists, and GP clinicians’ assistants.
Jenny Brown and the speech and language therapy adult team at Betsi Cadwaladr have shown ‘absolute dedication and energy, immense flexibility and resilience.’ Many community-based staff (learning disability, mental health and chronic conditions) have rapidly learnt and applied new clinical skills to support the acute-based team.
‘Unflappable’ Lisa Partridge, speech and language therapist, acute team lead at Cardiff and Vale is praised for her caring attitude towards patients and colleagues. Always approachable and willing to give advice, she has been a constant ‘kind ear’ supporting the team‘s mental well-being. She created personalised thank you bags, and went outside her comfort zone to record a piece for BBC Wales.
The therapy project team at Enfys Hospital, Betsi Cadwaladr came together rapidly with a fast changing brief to establish a team to support patients in the field hospital. They developed a training programme to help redeployed therapy and nursing staff unused to a hospital setting to become confident in new roles.
Louise Greenwood and Team Radiology, NHS Highland have shown immense flexibility, adopting new working practices to maintain patient and staff safety. The entire workforce from all Highland radiology departments pulled together in new roles and working different shift patterns to provide an efficient, safe and caring service.
Jennifer Britz and the integrated hospital occupational therapy team at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board are praised for their ‘incredible and outstanding’ attitude of ‘can do’ and ‘how can we help,’ showing adaptability, flexibility and resilience in working in unfamiliar clinical areas e.g. being part of a proning team in ITU.
‘inspirational leader’ Amy Mitchell, head of occupational therapy, mental health and learning disabilities, at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, created the Rainbow Pack for socially isolated people, containing written guidance, a sweet treat, self-care products and a relevant activity. The feedback from service users has been heart-warming.
Physiotherapist Alyson Williams and the Team Red & Blue at Belfast Health and Social Care Trust are an inspirational group of physiotherapists and other AHPs who came together, upskilled and delivered compassionate care to COVID-19 patients. They were quick to work outside their skill set, offering support and help to nursing colleagues.
And finally a nomination for Jake Hellier, COVID response lead nurse at Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust who is visible and proactive. ‘People feel they can open up to him with his caring personality, compassion and understanding.’
If you would like to make a nomination of a colleague or your team go to https://ahawards.co.uk/esteem/