From the tragedy of losing a much-loved colleague to the joy of new born babies arriving during lockdown, the past few months have been tough for staff and patients at Warrington & Halton Teaching Hospitals, but day in, day out, each and everyone has risen to the challenge.

'Thank you very much'

Warrington Guardian: From left to right: Steve McGuirk, chairman CBE DL QFMS and Professor Simon Constable, chief executiveFrom left to right: Steve McGuirk, chairman CBE DL QFMS and Professor Simon Constable, chief executive

“It has been a long and challenging few months for all of us. Despite the unprecedented challenges, stresses, fears and sheer exhaustion that our staff and patients have experienced, one thing has really kept us going – the knowledge that our local communities had our backs.

“You have shaved your heads, drawn, bowled, run, cooked, baked, sewn, knitted and clapped for us. You did without to give us a donation. You made us laugh and you made us cry. You sustained us with your unshakeable belief that we could overcome this. You were with us every step of the way. For this the words ‘Thank You’ will never be enough.

“As the NHS celebrates its 72nd birthday on July 5, 2020 we wanted to honour our envied national treasure. We wanted to recognise those who supported us and, not least, the 4,500 amazing WHH staff and volunteers who embraced everything that we have thrown at them, pre, during and post-pandemic, and risen to the challenge time and again.

“Together we are working hard on getting appointments rescheduled, procedures restarted and learning to live and care in this ‘new normal’. We know however, that we will do this and that we will do it together.

“Thank you for being there, and for continuing to be there. We will always be there for you.”

Professor Simon Constable, chief executive, and Steve McGuirk, chairman CBE DL QFMS

Loss of a much-loved colleague

Warrington Guardian: Hospital staff pay their last respects to colleague Joselito HababHospital staff pay their last respects to colleague Joselito Habab

As we worked our way through the trials of the pandemic, we were devastated to lose one of our own colleagues to Covid-19. Jo (Joselito) Habab passed away at Whiston Hospital’s ICU on May 20, 2020; his wife Michelle by his side.

Jo joined us almost 18 years ago having trained as a nurse in his native Manila, Philippines. He achieved his NMC registration in 2003 and was a staff nurse in Trauma & Orthopaedics until 2011. He became a clinical nurse educator in 2011 during which time he was awarded Employee of the Month. Jo had recently promoted to Orthopaedic Trauma Nurse Co-ordinator but before becoming ill, Jo was back in a key clinical education and training role keeping others safe by doing PPE training and FIT testing for face masks. He was an exemplary nurse and role model and fiercely proud of being both a nurse and a member of the WHH family.

He is very sadly missed by all who knew and worked with him, but we will ensure that he will not be forgotten.

Jo leaves wife Michelle and their teenage son Dylan, who bravely joined the minute’s silence to honour this remarkable nurse, husband, father, friend and colleague.

Sixteen pairs of twins born during lockdown

The construction of the £1.5m midwife-led birth centre on the ground floor of Croft Wing at the Warrington site is nearing completion with plans for the first births in the autumn. The next stage will be to once again engage women and their families on the final exciting elements such as colour choices and the name for the centre.

But while the building work on the new birth centre goes on, throughout the lockdown babies continued to be born – in fact 642 bundles of joy who were safely delivered on our maternity unit during lockdown, between March 23 and June 23. 318 girls, 324 boys and 16 sets of twins!

Maternity matron Tracy Thomas and maternity integrated care manager Claire Braithwaite are really looking forward to opening the centre.

“The new birth centre provides an exciting opportunity to deliver care for some of our ladies who choose to birth their baby in a low risk environment.

Providing continuity of care across all areas including antenatal and the postnatal period, it will undoubtedly enhance the experience for our ladies and their families.

“We are so pleased and proud to be able to offer this option to women and their families. Giving birth in a relaxed calm environment where intervention is reduced is the foundation of a healthy start in life.”

Keeping patients and loved ones close

Warrington Guardian: Chief nurse Kimberley Salmon JamiesonChief nurse Kimberley Salmon Jamieson

A big success during the pandemic was the daily telephone calls made by clinically trained Family Liaison Officers (FLOs) providing a daily wellbeing update to a named contact.

Clinical staff unable to work on the frontline due to shielding, pregnancy or health/other factors set up the service and allocated ‘FLOs’ to special C wards. In this way, where possible, the same FLO was able to provide consistent support to the nominated contact.

Chief nurse Kimberley Salmon Jamieson explained: “We found that many families were reluctant to telephone the wards as they were concerned about disturbing busy staff yet were really anxious to hear how patients were. The FLOs improve patients’ experiences and general wellbeing by being that vital communication link. Our FLOs took this one step further by introducing ‘FLO-grams’. Taking down messages after their daily telephone calls to pass back to patients. These have proved hugely popular with our patients.”

Scheduled ‘virtual visiting’ was also implemented using iPads and Skype and a ‘Contact a Patient’ service established via the Trust’s website.

Important support from hospital charity

Warrington Guardian:

As the pandemic arrived in force, our hospitals’ charity, WHH Charity, immediately swung into action to support our patients, their families and our staff during this horrible, unbelievable time.

Setting up a ‘Community Hub’ at Warrington Hospital’s Kendrick Wing, we put out the call for help and our communities responded in spades - supporting us to do incredible things for our patients and staff. From large businesses, corporate organisations and faith groups to small enterprises and individuals, all played their own significant role in helping us stay strong, stay connected and stay resilient.

Generous donations of android tablets and i-Pads meant that our patients could stay connected despite the tight visiting restrictions. This made all the difference to patients and their families be it cheering and supporting recovery or very sadly saying goodbye from a distance.

To learn more about our hospitals’ charity and how you can help shape our future direction or get involved in one of our many opportunities, please visit:  www.whhcharity.org.uk/coronavirus 

Tele:01925 662666

Email: helen.higginson1@nhs.net