Critical Care given Chief Executive's Award

Pictured: Matron Jill Bogucki (centre) with just a few of the many staff members on the Critical Care team

UHNM’s Critical Care team have treated more than 90 critically ill patients with COVID-19 to date.  The team have excelled in care and compassion and their efforts have now been formally recognised with a Chief Executive’s Award, which is given to teams and individuals who demonstrate exemplary dedication and compassion.

Jill Bogucki, Critical Care Matron, said: “Working in Critical Care is incredibly rewarding and challenging and in many ways the pandemic has enhanced the joys and complexities of our roles here.   Working during an event like this is scary for anyone, no matter who you are, and it has been difficult for us all as we have had to get used to wearing full PPE throughout our shift and adapt to an emergency rota pattern at the peak of the pandemic.  Everyone in the team: doctors, nurses, therapy staff and non-clinical staff, all played their part and went above and beyond, giving of themselves physically and emotionally. We’re in a position where we are able to bring comfort to people’s families at a terribly distressing time and it’s a privilege to be a part of this. And we’ve also had the joy of seeing many patients be discharged from the unit, many of which have now gone home - it’s days like these that keep us going.”

Incredibly, 66% of those admitted to Critical Care with COVID-19 have now been discharged from the unit and are in the process of recovery.

Tracy Bullock, UHNM Chief Executive Officer, said: “I want to thank the team in Critical Care for their courage and commitment and for doing their utmost to look after people during this unprecedented time. I know that, amongst many challenges, staff have found the visiting restrictions imposed by the lockdown extremely difficult to deal with. As a nurse myself I can only imagine how heartrending it must have been knowing that loved ones were kept apart at this very difficult time. The absence of visitors has also meant that staff have had to go the extra mile and consider creative ways of having sometimes very difficult conversations over the phone instead of face-to-face.  The work the Critical Care staff have done over the last few months has required an enormous amount of compassion and resilience. However, a brighter side of what we’ve all been experiencing is that we have seen teamwork at its best, with staff supporting and motivating each other day in, day out. This is commendable and what makes our UHNM family the success it is.”