I want to start by sharing a couple of films that were produced by the BBC and broadcast during their North West news bulletins and as part of the national Breakfast programme this week.
If you have seen them on the television or via the thousands of shares they have received on social media, you will know exactly the ones I mean. If not, please do watch them here and here.
Like many people I was knocked off my feet by the honesty and emotion shown by the staff interviewed. Their bravery in fighting this pandemic is palpable. The effect it has had on them very clear to see.
It’s easy to think I have lived through this too and that, somehow, the impact of these films would be less on me because I know how brutal the pandemic has been.
Make no mistake, I found them a most powerful piece of film making that captured in no small way exactly what we have experienced here.
I have read the comments posted on social media too by people who have been really moved by the stories told by colleagues on the films and the undeniable and lasting effect the last 12 months have had on the team.
I cannot tell you strongly enough how proud I am as Chief Executive of this great, great organisation. The contribution of each and every colleague has been immense.
The longer film was produced by BBC health correspondent Gill Dummigan, who has been a regular visitor to East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust over the years, but particularly during the past 12 months as we have been so badly hit by Covid.
You might remember Gill’s hard hitting series last spring, focusing on our initial response to the pandemic and capturing the experiences of our staff, patients and their families. Most parts of the hospital were able to get involved to demonstrate how we were all working so closely as a team to support our community through those first few weeks and months in the grip of the virus. If you haven’t seen these, watch them here.
In this most recent production, the BBC wanted to return to ELHT to again hear the experiences of those same staff as part of their reflection and remembrance coverage produced to mark a year since the first lockdown on March 23.
I want to say how brave I think the staff who were featured were to take part in such an honest and open way. You can see how hard it is for them to talk about this and how they are clearly overcome with the emotion of the memories throughout.
I also want to say a huge thank you to Gill and all the journalists who are capturing these historic memories and moments of the most unprecedented times. It is easy to dismiss media enquiries and requests when you are responding to a global pandemic as frivolous, but their expertise in sharing stories and creating a record so that future generations can understand better our experiences will be very important indeed. I’m sure they were also scared of Covid-19 and didn’t undertake activity in hospital settings without their own concerns.
Lastly, the staff featured are very special individuals indeed, but I want to acknowledge they are also typical of all colleagues here who just go above and beyond, further and faster, in the most compassionate and caring way, each and every single day and night. You are incredible.
As our Chaplain, David, says so honestly in the film, these experiences will stay with us forever and it is impossible to unsee things you might prefer to forget.
Our health and wellbeing support is now more important than ever and it is great news that we have secured a grant from NHS Charities Together as part of Sir Captain Tom’s fundraising legacy. This will be spent on ensuring colleagues have the support they need, both individually and together as a team.
I would urge us all to see this film, to take it in and remember it. Not least, when you are following the restrictions as they gradually ease and when you are offered the vaccine.
I believe we owe it to ourselves, to each other and most of all to the brave NHS staff who have already given so much to do whatever we can to beat this virus.
Together, we can do it and together we will.
Take care,
Kevin