Redeployment stories from The Royal London Hospital medical wards
Sophie Parkin from St Bartholomew’s Hospital and Benidick Batallones and Adrian Ramdass from The Royal London Hospital, discuss their redeployment experiences and encourage others to do the same.
Sophie Parkin - Highly Specialist Physiotherapist
“I usually work at St Bartholomew’s Hospital as a band seven physiotherapist, in the specialist medicine and sleep and ventilation team.
“I work with patients with chronic lung disease or who require support with their breathing due to neurological reasons. I have been in the role for 18 months and have worked for the trust for over six years.
“18 months prior to this job I was a rotational band six physiotherapist working between The Royal London Hospital, St Bartholomew’s Hospital and the community, so have spent a lot of time at The Royal London site.”
The physiotherapy service that Sophie usually works in, was being reduced due to a surge in Covid-19 patients and medical staff being redeployed to The Royal London Hospital. Sophie said: “I had an established team, who reassured me they could maintain the reduced service.
“I’ve worked at The Royal London Hospital before and felt I could slot into the familiar team of therapists relatively easily. The use of CPAP on the wards was increasing, and this was something I was comfortable with due to my usual role.
“During the first wave I remained at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, but was redeployed into the ECMO service and found the process of redeployment into a team I had worked with before an easier change. I also wanted to do my part and help colleagues who were working with the rapidly increasing numbers on the respiratory wards.”
Sophie is currently based in the specialist respiratory team at The Royal London Hospital, which covers the acute respiratory wards for COVID +ve patients, renal HDU and COVID –ve medical wards.
“I have worked with some of the team before and I have also worked with some of the redeployed staff through previous band five rotations”, said Sophie.
“My first shift was a mixture of overwhelming and returning to the familiar. I was based on 13E alongside a consultant I usually work with at St Bartholomew’s Hospital and some nurses I had previously worked with, which made things much easier.
“I didn’t feel anxious returning, but noticed that when I started putting on the PPE it reminded me of the first wave and the impact that had on me.
“During that first day, I found returning back to full PPE and dealing with acutely deteriorating Covid-19 patients an emotional challenge. Whilst I recognised I could provide good skills and knowledge in managing their oxygen requirements and positioning the patients, the number and intensity of the ward was considerably more than I expected.
“I felt more emotionally and physically fatigued after my first day, than I expected. I don’t think I processed the impact until the weekend.”
Sophie shared that she is utilising the wellbeing resources at The Royal London Hospital, she said: “The wellbeing areas across the hospital provide welcoming quiet places to pause, reflect and even distract you, from what you have dealt with that day.
“The views of London on the 13th floor never get boring and on sunny days, it can be a really helpful place to gain ‘perspective’.
“I feel working through this second wave, is harder than the first.
“Reliving and recounting the experiences from the beginning of last year have been hard, but I think the value of teams and the wider MDT looking out for and supporting each other has grown as well.
“I think it’s easy to get caught up in a cycle of thinking this phase won’t end, but focusing on the positive patient recovery stories and reconnecting with old colleagues has helped boost morale.
“Barts Health has supported individuals as much as they can and it’s nice to see the feedback from the first wave being responded too, such as the return of free food, multiple wellbeing spaces and improved communication with redeployed staff.
“My biggest worry is what impact this surge will have on our staff’s work morale, especially after the pandemic has finished. I feel the use of the wellbeing spaces in the long term and not just for this current period, will be a great starting point.”
Benidick Batallones - Clinical Endoscopist
“I am a Clinical Endoscopist based at The Royal London Hospital Endoscopy unit, which manages a complex group of patients with gastrointestinal disease or symptoms.
“Part of my job is also training junior doctors and future nurse endoscopist’s to meet specific skill sets in delivering a competent and safe endoscopic procedures.
“I have been working as part of the trust Infection and Immunity team since 2005, when I started Barts Health. So I have that experience, which helped me adjust, especially during the first wave of the pandemic.
“I am currently redeployed and working on 13F, which is a Covid-19 unit that deals with patients who require high flow oxygen and non-invasive ventilation that needs close monitoring.
“It is more challenging now as we encounter a lot of sick individuals, including younger patients and patients who have had multiple Covid-19 involvements within their family.
“This is my second time being redeployed, so my first shift on 13F was okay. I felt comfortable as I knew the team and was familiar with the environment and work within the ward setting.
“The 13F staff were simply amazing, very supportive and always there when needed.
“Ask anything and they would not hesitate to offer help.”
Benidick explained he has been making the most of the staff wellbeing resources, he said: “I have been using the facilities offered by the trust. This is really helpful and beneficial for everybody.
“I’ve felt well supported by the trust and being well looked after.”
Benidick shared that after he was redeployed during the first wave, he sent his new colleagues on 13F a thank you card to express his gratitude.
“I know the second wave of the pandemic has been quite a bit more intense and busier than the one we had in March 2020.
“This has been very challenging for all of us, in terms of the pressures we've been through. But despite this, we still manage to deliver the best and safest possible care to our patients.
“I will always be willing to help and support 13F again, if time comes.”
Adrian Ramdass - Senior Charge Nurse
“My normal role is working on the endoscopy unit as the senior charge nurse, a role I have been in for just under four years”, says Adrian.
“I have been working in endoscopy for over 23 years at various trust around north London and Essex.”
“During the first peak, I stayed in endoscopy due to my family commitments, but these have now changed. So I decided that if asked, I would be happy to be redeployed.
“I am a nurse and this is what I do, care for patients. So being redeployed felt like a natural thing to do .
Adrian explained that he has not been on the wards for a very long time, but was looking forward to the new challenge.
“On my first day I felt like ‘Bamby’, I was a bit nervous, but was looking forward to the new and different challenge.
“The support from the other staff members on the unit is amazing, they have been reassuring and given me confidence.
“Team work at The Royal London Hospital is great and I am so proud to be part of the team.
“We may not be in the spotlight like other units, but 13C is doing it’s bit to keep The Royal London Hospital going and dealing with the demands.
“I also feel that while the nurses and doctors get the limelight, we must not forget all the others who make this possible, including the potters, domestics, pharmacy and all the others.
“I am so pleased with what we have achieved, especially as we are a team that has come together from different areas and I proud work with them.
“If asked, I would do this again without a doubt!”
If these redeployment stories have inspired you, please visit our redeployment page on WeShare or register your interest here.
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