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
Transitional Care Team
By Nicola Speakman, Ward Manager, Transitional Care
What was your experience of the pandemic?
It was a difficult time for staff in hospitals. There was a lot of anxiety at the beginning as we did not know how the pandemic would affect us. We have had to adapt sometimes daily to changes in our working life. One of our consultants sadly died from COVID as did a midwife who was well known to some of the staff.
We only had three staff members shielding but as we are a small ward it meant we were quite short-staffed although we did have help from the Children’s Hospital and found some great new bank staff.
We are quite a tight team anyway, but the pandemic made us closer and we were a great support for each other.
We were very lucky as because of not having anywhere for patients with COVID to be placed we were quite a low-risk ward.
What was the hardest part?
Leaving home to work in a high-risk environment, then going home, worried about taking COVID back into our homes.
The sad deaths of staff we had in the trust.
Being short-staffed due to staff shielding.
How did you cope?
Support from our work family. We feel luckier than most, especially those who worked from home. At least we were getting out of the house and seeing other people.
Having help from BC with staff who came and worked with us.
What did you learn?
There is no team like ours and we are stronger than we think.
How resilient our mothers have been without having their partners and families with them, and on the whole they have been very grateful for the help and support they have received from the team.
How do you think it changed the team?
Our ability to adapt. Otherwise, we have always had a good team spirit.
Beyond your team, who has inspired you during the pandemic?
Support from the neonatal management team.
Lab staff – their workload went through the roof and they did well to manage it all.
The whole hospital’s ability to adapt and sometimes change daily.
Our mothers on the ward with their ability to cope without family support.
Staff from the Children’s who came to work in a different hospital to help us.
Seeing patients who had been seriously ill with COVID-19 going home with their babies that had to be delivered prematurely.