A number of NHS staff have produced videos urging the public to stay at home and follow the rules.

Hailing from a number of roles from the front line to the laboratories they each explain how each are doing their part to make sure that services keep going and the NHS need the public’s help.Linda Graham 2.jpg

Linda Graham is a community nursing lead for the Eden area of Cumbria says in her video:

“Our community nurses across the county are doing all they can to make sure that patients continue to receive the highest level of care possible. Despite the obvious difficulties we are still donning our PPE and delivering care in people’s homes. We are doing all we can to make sure the NHS keeps going and we need you to do all you can to stop the spread of the virus.”

Dr Jon SturmJonSturmanICU.JPGan, clinical lead for intensive care across north Cumbria said:

“Our staff are doing an amaxzing job in a time of extreme pressure, but we need your help in order to reduce any furterh pressure on the system while we  look after the COVID and non COVID patients we have so please observce govermentment guidance and hands face space and that will help us enourmously."

Nicola O’Reilly; the chief matron for infection prevention explained:

“In all our hospitals we have very strict infection prevention measures to help keep our patients and staff safe. We have made a range of logistical changes to ensure that patients are seen in the right place at the right time by the right people.  My team and all staff have worked tirelessly to do this. We are doing everything we can to keep providing the services you need, please do all you can to help us. Stay at home and follow the guidance.”

Christmas and New Year sent its own challenges but staff across the organisation were all willing to come in and help.  Staff have been undertaking different roles to support different department, annual leave has been cancelled and shift patterns have changed all to help make sure services can continue.

Daniel Desborough is an apprentice A&E nurse. He said:

“Your local NHS staff are trying their very best and we are doing all we can to make sure that the NHS remains here for you. The virus doesn’t spread itself, we spread it, so please, help your local NHS. Stay at home and follow the guidance.”

Daniel Sherret works in the hospital at night team. He said:

“It’s been very difficult recently in the hospital, we’ve seen more patients in this wave than any other and the patients do seem to be younger this time. All the staff really are pulling out all the stops to keep services going, we need you to help us. If we can slow the community infections we will slow the hospital admissions. Please stay at home and follow the guidance.”

Debra Padgett is the infection sciences operational manager, managing the labs that test for coronavirus. She explained:

“All COVID-19 swabs come to our labs for analysis and with the significant rise in covid -19 cases in both the community and in the hospitals you can imagine the pressure my teams have been under. Every member of my team has stepped up to offer more hours, do different roles and help in any way they can to make sure that we manage to get results back quickly and accurately.

This is the third wave and I can assure you this is not the first time staff across the Trust have gone the extra mile. I am exceptionally proud of how we have changed the way we work to deal with the added pressure. We are doing everything we can to make sure that our services continue and I urge every member of the public to do what you can to help the NHS.”

The Trust also wants to assure all our new and expectant mums that we are here for you. Please do not hesitate to contact us or your midwife if you have any worries or questions about you or your pregnancy.

Rachel Fulton, matron for maternity services at the Cumberland Infirmary explained:

“We have strict infection prevention measures across our community teams and in all our maternity wards and we do everything that we can to keep you and our staff safe. I would also like to pay tribute to all the maternity staff who I can assure you have gone out of their way to make sure that our service remains the high quality service for which it is renowned.”

All videos can be viewed here:

There is also a link for a playlist which will play them all: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjfHBup040KlYGh0BM5EyGsqWb4Slkp0I