Celebrating BWC Spirit
We are highlighting the amazing things our colleagues have done and achieved during the pandemic.
Our teams have bravely stood by the side of our patients, changed how they have worked to keep key and emergency services running and gone beyond the Trust to help colleagues in other parts of the NHS.
They have done so with an approach and spirit that is uniquely BWC and we want to celebrate that and what has been achieved.
From frontline clinical colleagues to our unseen and often unsung heroes in labs, offices and in our corridors - everyone has had a part to play and we’re sharing some of their stories over the next two weeks.
If you would like to thank individuals or teams either by sharing some kind words, pictures or a short video we would love to see them. You can submit your messages, pictures or videos by emailing bwc.communications@nhs.net
Paediatric Intensive Care Unit
By Susan Longman, Lead Nurse PICU, PICU
What was your experience of the pandemic?
Amazing teamwork. We changed how we worked on many occasions following hospital COVID guidance. We were in a high-risk area and changed what we did and how we did it, working in full personal protection equipment for a month and now for specific patients. Some staff changed roles, we needed to educate and train differently. We also supported adult units this year.
What was the hardest part?
There were some really emotional times with parents who so wanted to be together at the bedside and couldn’t be. Not being able to comfort parents and each other in the ways we always did by hugging was hard. Working long days in full PPE.
How did you cope?
Hug vouchers, teamwork, good communication, acknowledging it was OK not to be OK.
What did you learn?
We are a strong, caring and compassionate multi-disciplinary team who took care of each other - the hug vouchers were lovely to give out and receive.
How do you think it changed the team?
We have always been an innovative team and the pandemic has taken us to a new level. Our education teams both nursing and medics have worked differently and created amazing resources. At the centre of this, it highlights that we can find new ways of working and continue to deliver the best care for our children, young people and their families. And, that we are a strong team who are responsive and adaptive
Beyond your team, who has inspired you during the pandemic?
Our families never cease to amaze us with their resilience, care and compassion when things are tough.
We had amazing support from the hospital teams. In the early days, we didn’t know what COVID would look like and we set up an additional intensive care unit. Ward 8 moved to a new area to allow us to do this at very short notice – amazing! Staff from around the hospital, community, retired nurses, and ex-PICU nurses all offered support. Many worked with us, many had refreshers just in case.
When the adult intensive care units became overcome with admissions and asked for support it was there with no hesitation - many of the multi-disciplinary team took nursing shifts in the adult units even when it wasn’t their normal role!