Bridport Community Hospital
Photos by Daniel Martins
Taken: 5th and 9th June 2020
Chris and Patrick – Minor injuries
Chris Case: “The telephone triage and the appointment system enables us to manage our workload better”
“We, as the front-line workers in the NHS and such, are no longer the “front-line workers”. Really, it’s now up to the public and them following the advice and guidance.”
Patrick Letherby: “Throughout the whole situation, we’ve managed to maintain a near-normal service as much as possible. I think what we’ve learnt is that actually the NHS is large and flexible enough to meet the challenge, and we have a really experienced, close-knit team.”
“I think that “Clap for the NHS”, is about people coming together and, from my point of view, I’ve gotten to know my neighbours better”
Kelly Scadding – Receptionist
“The hardest thing has been not being able to see friends and family. It’s quite surreal when you see friends and you can’t actually give them a cuddle”
“We’ve all worked as a team; we’ve all supported each other. I think at home as well, we’ve kind of come together more as a family”
“Be careful, be mindful. This isn’t over”
Terry Stoodley – General office administrator
“I think the positive has been watching everybody come together - working in different roles but being happy to have a go at anything they can to support the hospital. That’s been quite impressive to watch”
“We, as a community hospital, have been really well supported by the Bridport people. We’ve had people bring in Easter eggs, bring in pizzas, we’ve had people making us masks. We’ve had builders come up with masks for us, which is just wonderful that they’ve taken the time to come up and support us here. The company Lush has sent us hand cream and handwash, and I have a massive donations list of what’s been provided. As staff, we’ve been very lucky”
Sarah Adams – Pharmacist
“We’ve all worked incredibly well as a team. We’ve all appreciated each other and taken time to appreciate each other.”
“I think my message is that the people of Bridport should be incredibly proud of the way the staff have worked in BCH to support their patients and to get them well”
“We’ve supported each other and have been there for the patients, and we’ve found a way forward”
Sandy Harris – Advanced Nurse practitioner
“The hardest thing has been not seeing my family, on a personal level. Workwise, the change to how we have to work on the ward has been hard, with all the protective equipment we use. It’s quite hard to interact with patients with a mask on”
“The virus has had a colossal impact, not only on the here and now, but also people’s lives for a long time to come. Be mindful of not spreading the virus… be alert and don’t get complacent.”
Dr Riaz – Consultant Geriatrician
“Now it feels more like it’s routine but when it started, we were dealing with an illness that we had never met before… we were learning about what we were dealing with at the same time as our patients “
“Communities have been reminded of the importance of each other, in a way that is easy to forget in modern life. I think a lot of people have realised that there’s a lot of good stuff in their lives, close to home, that they’d forgotten about”
“Having trust in the people around you, and helping them be the best version of themselves that they can be, is easily the best way to approach life”
Mafalda and Di – Domestic Assistants
Mafalda Martins: “The cleaning staff of the hospital are just as important as anybody else. If we didn’t work hard and do our job properly, the virus could spread even more, so we are important too. We’re very lucky to have everyone on the ward working together really well”
“We work on the ward all day so when we go back home, we’re scared of bringing the virus with us. That’s why it’s important to follow the advice”
Di Trivett: “Wearing all the PPE has been the hardest thing. We’ve seen very poorly people but it’s good to see them recover. “
“We’ve worked well as a team. If the nurses are in a room and need something but can’t come out, we help them. And then if we need something, they help us. We’ve all got to work together – not just the cleaners but the whole ward”
Siobhan Baxter – Hotel services manager
“We’ve got a very good team here, so that’s a positive. My staff work very, very hard. And it’s been recognised. The ward has said how well the domestics are working”
“I would like people to recognise the support services as a vital element of running a hospital, as much and as needed as the clinical ward staff. The support service is essential in a hospital, and we do that very well here”
“I’m very grateful that my staff have been as committed to the role as they always are. They work very, very hard… we’ve worked together as a really good team and that commitment and dedication really has shown”
Karen Creaser – Kitchen assistant
“Now, I think everybody appreciates what they’ve got. It’s not until everything stops that you realise how much you miss something. “
“Appreciate what you’ve got and listen to the government and what the doctors are saying. They’re saying it to try and keep everyone safe”
Graham Lawrence – Porter
“I also work on the patient transport ambulances, and we were transporting corona-virus patients in a confined space, so that was difficult.”
“I’m grateful for community spirit… the lockdown has been difficult for a lot of people and it’s created a lot of changes, but I think some good has come out of it.”
Paul Sibley – Kitchen chef
“I want people to remember 2020. Remember this. Follow the rules and abide by them and think of other people. Stay safe and help the elderly and people that are vulnerable”
“The hardest thing has been getting used to everything. We have different routines and ways of life. You’re always focused on not getting too close to people, which is hard”
Estates Department
“People are appreciating key workers, and not just hospital workers. From lorry drivers, to people working in supermarkets, it gives them a bit of appreciation that they’ve maybe never had.”
“A lot of people have been helping elderly people in their communities by getting them shopping and thing like that. I think there’s been a good sense of community”
Ray Thain – Minor injuries
“There’s been a lot of exposure to what’s happening in ITUs and care homes. But I don’t think that community hospitals and other wards in hospitals have been highlighted”
“Remember that viruses are deadly, and it’s not gone back to normal… The way health care is delivered is changing, the way people work is changing.”
Kate Michell – Health and Social Care co-ordinator
“If we take a problem-solving, rational approach to things, it all comes out alright in the end. We will get used to this. We’re going to be living with COVID for a long time”
“The most impressive thing has been that, around here, people have been far kinder and far more supportive of each other than I could’ve possibly imagined. I just hope that going forward, people remember this, they remember to whom they were grateful for, they remember how much they depended on their social services and health services - and remember that those services need protecting.”
Ellen Holmes – Matron
“One of the hardest things has been looking after the staff and making sure they have the right equipment at the right time to be as safe as possible”
“What we’re grateful for here is the amount of support we’ve had from the local community. We’ve had so many gifts and donations – we have a massive list of things which people have donated - which has been amazing”
“People have been extremely generous. We’ve had many monetary donations that have gone into charitable funds. At the end of this, we will be in a really good position to be able to buy lovely things for the patients and for the staff”
David Turner – Specialist Clean Team
“A positive thing has been seeing people come together. At the beginning no-one knew what was going to happen”
“Care for each other. Look out for each other. Try not to forget that it is your health that’s the most important thing. It’s not money, it’s not objects, it is your health”
Daniela Brustolon – Senior radiographer
“I’m grateful for neighbours and the community pulling together, and everybody is really now going that extra mile and appreciating how difficult it is for some people to get groceries, and things like that. I’m really grateful that everyone has pulled together and now has more compassion and understanding, and not only for the NHS and key workers… but for each other”.
“Be sensible and think about everyone else as well as yourself”
Marysia Lane – Receptionist
“Not seeing family and friends is probably the hardest thing. And even when we’ve been allowed to see people it’s not the same. Not being able to give someone a hug, or having a hug back, I think that is the worst, because you can video call and you can see people but there’s no physical contact”
Vanessa Selman – I.T. Administrator
“The best thing has been the help I’ve gotten from people who I wouldn’t normally think would step up to help me”
“People really came together to help each other. Kindness and consideration really became a big thing during this”
Louisa Singleton – Rehabilitation Assistant
“With the heat, it’s been nice, but not when wearing PPE. It’s been quite hard to work with because patients can’t communicate as easily with us. The heat becomes unbearable at times”
“It’s important to be aware of the people that need help. They’re always out there but people aren’t always aware of that”
Thomas Warne – Rehabilitation Assistant
“With patients, we usually go in and smile and things that like that. But if you have a mask and a visor on, it’s difficult to communicate and be friendly like we usually are”
“I think before this happened there was more of a divide in the country. Perhaps a good thing and a message to remember is that we’ve pulled together. People have put aside their differences”
Kirstie Burrows – Physiotherapist
“From a work point of view, it’s been really nice on the ward to have lots of different professions. We’ve had redeployed staff, so they were fresh faces and new people. I think for us on the ward it was positive to have new people coming in. What else was nice was that everyone was helping out and doing potentially jobs that they wouldn’t normally do, but pulling together.”
Rose Simco – Registered Nurse
“I think one of the biggest lessons and messages that I hope everyone will remember is to value each and every person in the community. Remember the value they have in our everyday lives – from dustbin men, to people in supermarkets, everything that we usually take for granted… I think if people could remember that, and think back on it when we get to normal, that would be a good outcome”
Jon Kimber – Team Leader of Community Rehabilitation Team
“The hardest thing has been the sudden change in what we’ve had to do, and the sudden changes in services and how we offer those services. We’ve had to maintain these services because we look after vulnerable people in the community, so they are still, if not more, vulnerable than they were previously”
“There has been a worry from us in hospitals and working in the community as well that people are not asking for the help that they would normally ask for. People think “I’ve had a fall but I won’t phone my doctor because they’re really, really busy” but actually we’ll be busier if you don’t ask for that help… and hopefully we can prevent you having a second or third fall”