Emergency Department staff take solace in ‘Coffee and Vent’ sessions at Devon hospital

Dr Annette Rickard, Consultant in Emergency Medicine When the global pandemic hit the UK, NHS emergency teams knew their challenging jobs were about to get harder. Staff that work in the Emergency Department at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust (UHP) are no strangers to working in a high-pressure environment. As the largest acute hospital and … Continue reading Emergency Department staff take solace in ‘Coffee and Vent’ sessions at Devon hospital

My experience: St John Ambulance volunteer at UHP

There are lots of people from different organisations who make up the extended #1BigTeam at University Hospitals Plymouth (UHP). Abby Williams is an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), trainer and assessor who has been part of St John Ambulance for nearly three years. St John Ambulance volunteers have been helping out at UHP since July this … Continue reading My experience: St John Ambulance volunteer at UHP

My experience: Supporting people with Learning Disabilities and Autism

My name is Jill Singh and I started with the Trust as an Associate Educator: Learning Disabilities and Autism in April of this year. Following a successful bid to The Burdett Trust; a plan was put in place to improve the Trust’s LD training program. This included more use of co-trainers and a temporary Associate … Continue reading My experience: Supporting people with Learning Disabilities and Autism

My experience: Working from home was like being alone in a storm, but now I have the right support in place

Like so many others I began working from home in March once the government announced a national lockdown. It all seemed very surreal. Since our return from Christmas and New Year leave our office had been watching the unfolding disaster from China and monitoring the daily increase in infections. We discussed how terrible it all … Continue reading My experience: Working from home was like being alone in a storm, but now I have the right support in place

My COVID experience: ‘Re-awakening’ by Sascha Von-Lieven-Knapp

Occupational Therapist, Sascha has reflected on her experience as part of the COVID rehab team with a powerful piece of writing titled, ‘Reawakening’. I walk towards you – barely moving, tethered to tubes, bags and lines. You need help to breathe – to stay alive. Even your voice can no longer be heard - a … Continue reading My COVID experience: ‘Re-awakening’ by Sascha Von-Lieven-Knapp

My shielding experience: Going from working on the ward to never leaving the house

Lisa has worked as a nurse at University Hospitals Plymouth for over 25 years. Due to a medical condition she has been shielding at home since lockdown began. She has been keeping a video diary of her experiences – both professional and personal. In the short video below, Lisa explains some of the hard realities … Continue reading My shielding experience: Going from working on the ward to never leaving the house