Staff retrain, redeploy and reorganise to ensure patient care remains top priority during the COVID-19 pandemic

For the hundreds of NHS workers involved in hospital outpatient services in East Yorkshire, the past few weeks have been anything but ‘business as usual’.

As the scale of the effort required to respond to the coronavirus pandemic became clear in March, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust had to act quickly to protect its patients and prepare its staff and services.

This was no more acutely felt that in outpatient services, where thousands of routine appointments have been cancelled as far afield as Pocklington, Bridlington and Hornsea.

Eileen Henderson Head of Outpatient Services for the trust explains:

“As the COVID-19 situation began to unfold, we knew there was going to be a need to work differently.

“Encompassing over 30 different specialties* and collectively running over 1,000 clinics each week, the scale of the challenge for outpatients was huge.

“We needed to cancel thousands of appointments for our patients, to release and retrain many of our staff to help in more business critical parts of the hospitals, while still maintaining some level of business continuity in each service for those patients whose care simply cannot wait. We also needed to ensure those key services which the trust has committed to maintaining, such as cancer and cardiology, remain staffed and equipped to continue with their potentially life-saving work.

Aimee Fenn (left) and Katie Kavanagh of the Plastics Trauma outpatients team

“Each of the outpatient areas works slightly differently to best meet the need of their patients, so their responses to the pandemic have also varied in nature. Some teams, such as Plastics, have turned to video consultations as a means of conducting urgent appointments, for example, while others such as Vascular Outpatients have combined some of their physical clinics to create a one-stop-shop, meaning patients who do have to come in can see several experts at once and so reduce the number of hospital visits they have to make.

“But what has really impressed me has been the way staff have really wanted to roll their sleeves up, to join their colleagues and support the COVID-19 response in any way they can.”

Staff have flexed to deliver services in different places in order to protect patients at higher risk. Certain patients can now have their bloods taken in the Brocklehurst Building, for example, or attend clinics in the diabetic eye screening department to avoid the need to visit highly populated areas of the Hull Royal Infirmary site, thereby reducing their potential risk of exposure to COVID-19.

Both clinical and admin staff have also undertaken additional training to be able to support in areas with greater need or staff shortfalls.

“Redeployment of staff is a key part of our major incident planning, and with far fewer outpatient clinics running at the moment, staff have been asked to undergo training to be able to help out in parts of the hospital which are normally unfamiliar to them,” Eileen continues.

“Without exception, outpatient staff have embraced the challenge and approached this with such positivity, from the healthcare assistants and nurses right through to the admin staff and the doctors.

Healthcare assistants Jayne Hay (left) and Suzanne Dixon

“We’ve had staff who have worked in outpatients for years relishing the challenge of going back into a ward environment, and healthcare assistants stepping up to further enhance services in other parts of the hospital. I’ve been so impressed with just how keen and supportive our outpatient teams have been when it comes to working across different areas and supporting the patients who still need our care.”

Jayne Hay is one of those healthcare assistants who has moved from her usual role in the medical outpatient team to support the phlebotomy service at HRI. Not only does it mean Jayne and her colleagues Linda Bell and Suzanne Dixon have been able to provide an additional afternoon bloods round service to the wards, but this has also freed ward nursing and medical staff up to focus on more direct patient care.

Jayne says:

“We take lots of bloods normally in an outpatient setting, but acknowledge it is harder to take bloods from patients in a hospital bed. My move to phlebotomy in support of the coronavirus response has certainly opened my eyes, and I have a new respect for the staff working in a ward environment. ”

Eileen adds:

“We know how inconvenient it can be for someone to have their appointment cancelled and we know people worry about their health, so clinic cancellations are never something we would want to do. However the situation we find ourselves in is unprecedented, and we hope people see just how hard we have been working to support them through the outpatients service and in other parts of the hospital as well.

“I’d like to thank patients who have been affected by outpatient cancellations for their patience and understanding at this time, and of course I’d like to praise the outpatient service staff for their willingness to step up and join the battle against COVID-19.”

*Outpatient services encompass more than 30 different specialties including antenatal care, diabetes, neurology, ophthalmology, cardiology, oncology and gastroenterology. Collectively the trust’s outpatient service would deliver in the region of over 1,000 clinics every week at multiple sites across Hull and East Yorkshire including hospitals and health centres.

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Covid -19 patients involved in a clinical trial of the drug Remdesivir at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust are recovering faster than expected. This supports the results of a trial conducted in healthcare organisations around the world on behalf of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAD) which showed  patients who received Remdesivir recovered a third faster than those on a placebo.

The drug has yet to be approved and there is more work to do, but the early indications are that the drug is safe and effective.

The drug itself has been developed over the last decade by therapeutics company, Gilead, initially in response to Ebola and has been tried in other coronaviruses such as SARS and MERS.

One of the first patients in the country to receive the drug was treated at Castle Hill Hospital and is now at home recovering. So far, ten patients have taken part in the trial which is being conducted on the infectious diseases ward.

Professor Alyn Morice, who leads the trials unit in Hull, said:

“There is a long way to go in testing this drug before it can be approved for general use but our trial certainly indicates that we have reason to be optimistic that Remdesivir is effective. In general terms, the patients we treated with the drug are recovering much faster than expected.

“I have personally just recovered from Covid-19 myself and it was extremely unpleasant, so while we are cautious about this drug anything which might help patients is very welcome news.”

Patrick Lillie, Infectious Diseases Consultant at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and lead clinician for the trial, said:

“We are seeing the impact that Covid-19 has on our patients every day. For those in hospital it isn’t an easy experience at all, and clearly some people are symptomatic for weeks not days. The Infectious Diseases team are really pleased to have been involved in this early trial of Remdesivir but we must stress that it is not available to use at the present time, except within a clinical trial.”

For the past six weeks, the UK has been in lockdown. During that time, hospital workers at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust have been inundated with generous and kind offers of help and support from the public; everything from the production of PPE to donations of bread, toiletries, hot dinners, even Easter Eggs.

Now it is the turn of hospital staff to say thank you back to the public and other key workers for playing their vital role in the fight against coronavirus.

Simon Nearney, Director of Workforce and Organisational Development at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said:

“We have been sincerely moved by the generosity and kindness of so many people and local businesses. The local community has also played and continues to play its part in the fight against Covid-19 and as such our staff wanted to say a massive thank you to the people of Hull and East Riding.  We want people in our region to know how much we value their efforts just as they have appreciated ours.

“In the spirit of social distancing, we’ll be sharing a special thank you message on social media today. We want to acknowledge the sacrifices people across our area are making in order to protect themselves and the NHS. We also want to show our support for our fellow key workers, such as supermarket staff, bus drivers, postal workers and care workers who also continue to put themselves at risk to serve our community.

“By staying at home, remaining distanced from loved ones and friends, socially distancing in supermarkets and observing good hand-washing practices, the public are making it possible for us to cope with a gradual rise in the number of coronavirus patients.

“It’s important to understand that this situation is not over by any means, but we are in a better position locally thanks to the measures that people have taken so far. By continuing to observe the rules we can maintain that position and ensure our recovery is more effective and sustainable.

“Thank you to everyone who has shown their support for us in recent weeks, however large or small the gesture. Let’s keep up our collective efforts, and together we will beat this.”

Hull’s most senior nurse is appealing to the public to stay at home to mark the #ClapForCarers event tomorrow night.

People have been coming to Hull Royal Infirmary on Thursday nights to take part in the national round of applause for NHS staff, carers and key workers.

However, concern is growing that people are putting themselves and others at risk by making a non-essential journey to take part and are then failing to observe the two-metre distancing rule.

Chief Nurse Beverley Geary

Now, Beverley Geary, Chief Nurse at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, is appealing to the public and the media not to come to the hospital tomorrow night.

She said: “Our staff are deeply moved by this amazing show of support by the public and we want to say how grateful we are to everyone taking part.

“But we’ve become increasingly concerned that people are coming to hospital just to clap and are putting themselves and others in danger by standing too close to each other. We’ve seen the numbers increase,  week by week.

“We would like to thank you for your fantastic support but stress you can help the NHS best and save lives by staying at home this week.”

The trust dealt with the first confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the UK when its Infectious Diseases team, based at Ward 7, Castle Hill Hospital, received the first two patients at the end of January.

Thanks to the national observation of the lockdown, Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital have coped well with the admission of hundreds of patients suspected with or diagnosed with COVID-19.

Sadly, 88 people with the virus have died since March 19. However, more than 200, including 21 who have undergone treatment in the trust’s five Intensive Care Units, have recovered well enough to go home.

There are still around 130 patients with COVID-19 or suspected of having the virus in the hospitals.

Mrs Geary said: “If people start making non-essential journeys once again before the lockdown is lifted, there is a very real danger that we will start to see a sudden spike in cases once again which could overwhelm the NHS.

“Please stay at home on Thursday night to protect your NHS, save lives and support our staff in the best possible way.”

Radiotherapy team pulls out all the stops to ensure cancer treatments continue

As many hospitals look to re-start some elements of cancer treatment this week, radiotherapy staff in Hull have revealed how the COVID-19 pandemic has barely slowed them down.

From the outset, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust made a commitment to ensuring critical services such and cardiology, stroke services and cancer care would not be adversely affected by the organisation’s coronavirus response.

Now, as trusts up and down the country look to pick up where they left off, therapeutic radiographers at Castle Hill Hospital are keen to explain how their cancer patients have been able to continue their treatments throughout.

Barbara Whitaker, Deputy Radiotherapy Manager says:

“Being told you have cancer and having to start treatment can be worrying enough on their own.

PPE is now part of all pre-treatment preparation

“In early March, the coronavirus outbreak created an added level of anxiety for our patients due to the complications which COVID-19 can cause for vulnerable people and those with low immune systems. Knowing of the Trust commitment to keeping things going, we made it our mission to ensure access to radiotherapy treatment was one less thing for our patients to worry about.”

Armed with personal protective equipment, Castle Hill’s 62-strong team of radiotherapy staff pulled out all the stops to ensure their patients could continue their treatments with the minimum risk.

“The team is really enthusiastic and keen to make things happen, so with some careful planning and using the different skill sets within the wider team, we devised new ways of working. This has meant the service has continued uninterrupted throughout the recent pandemic, and ensured our patients have been able to continue coming to us for their potentially life-saving treatments.”

First up was how to deal with those patients who were particularly immuno-suppressed, so even more susceptible to complications from COVID-19.

“We have opted to see the patients whose cancer is making them particularly unwell at the beginning of the day. The department is always deep cleaned every evening, so this was deemed to be the safest approach for the people at highest risk.

Patients can now wait 2m apart

“For our routine patients, we’ve taken precautionary measures such as spacing our main waiting area out to ensure those waiting for treatment can remain the recommended 2 metres apart, and we have reduced footfall in the department by temporarily relocating the cancer assessment unit which previously shared our space.

”Radiotherapy, nurses and clinical support workers  are conducting as much pre-treatment screening as they can over the phone, and patients are then screened again in the department on arrival.”

As for those patients who are symptomatic?

“Members of the team have given up their staff rooms and offices in order to convert them into isolation rooms for patients coming in who are suspected or confirmed as COVID-19 positive,” Barbara continues.

“Being symptomatic doesn’t mean you need your radiotherapy treatment any less, so where it’s still safe for each patient to do so, we’ve been able to continue to deliver their radiotherapy. For everyone’s protection, we use one specific treatment room and we ask those patients to come in towards the end of the day, again to minimise the potential for symptomatic and positive patients to mix with people who aren’t. We then we deep clean the machine and the treatment room after every use.”

Barbara is also quick to commend the flexibility of the team:

“The team has been fantastic over the course of the coronavirus pandemic. Admin and clerical staff have been helping to organise the deep clean of the treatment rooms and organise transfers of patients up from the wards, while many part time staff have offered to work extra hours to cover staffing shortfalls due to colleagues self-isolating. We’re also grateful for the support of the family and women’s health group, who have released three former therapeutic radiographers from the mammography service to refresh their skills and boost our staff numbers again should we need them.

Therapeutic radiographers have worked hard to maintain their service for cancer patients

“Patients needing radiotherapy can come in every day for a period of weeks, so the team get to know their patients and build up really good relationships with them. Wearing the PPE can sometimes feel like the care we provide is a little less personal, but we want our patients to know that we are still smiling behind the masks and we will continue to do all we can to ensure their care continues uninterrupted.”

Clare Hutton, Radiotherapy Manager says:

“Although it might feel to many people like COVID-19 is the sole focus of healthcare right now, life in radiotherapy is still very much business as usual. We’ve obviously had to make some adjustments to ensure the service can run safely through this pandemic and reduce the risk to patients and staff, but ultimately we’ve been able to ensure patients can still make their daily visits to the department and receive the same high quality service as they did before.

“The department may feel a little different as you enter; social distancing has been implemented and face to face contact has reduced, for example, but the vast majority of treatments have remained the same. None of this would be possible without the full support of the team who, as always, take things in their stride and make things work.

“It really has been all hands to the pump to make the transition to our ‘new normal’ work effectively and we’re pleased to say that our patients are continuing to see the benefit of this.”

A new nursing team has been created at Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital to support families unable to visit their loved ones in Intensive Care during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (HUTH) has set up the special nursing team, working seven days a week, to act as the link between families and clinical staff working in its five Intensive Care Units.

Members of the team update families following doctors’ rounds every day and act as a liaison for families, on hand to answer any questions relatives may have while their loved one is being cared for by the critical care team.

Senior Matron Rebecca Smith said: “We understand how hard it is for families during this time because they can’t come and visit their loved ones in hospital.

“Families of all patients admitted to Intensive Care, not just those with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, are being supported by this new team and we hope it is making a difference.”

Intensive Care nurses Alex Wray, Sarah Hill, April Ablitt, Jade Courtney, Sarah Gibbins, Jade Marson, Jodie McBride, Hannah North, Emily Rooke, Jennifer Smith, Melissa Smith, Amy Tomlinson, Jasmine Barraclough and Elizabeth Wright with Rachael Melia providing administrative support ­have been redeployed to support families of the sickest patients throughout COVID-19.

Families receive a photograph of the nurse who will act as their main point of contact while their relative is in Intensive Care.

The nurses provide them with a telephone number and an email address so they can get in touch if they have any questions. They then contact them by telephone every day after ward rounds to update them on the condition of their loved ones. They will also pass on additional information from the clinical team.

As well as providing regular updates, the nurses also find out about the patients in Intensive Care so they can pass on the information to their colleagues.

Alex Wray, who is leading the team with Sarah Hill, said: “In normal times, staff would get an insight into the patient from their loved ones when they come to visit them or stay with them in the unit.

“Sadly, that’s not possible just now because we can’t have visitors on the units to protect our most seriously ill patients from the risk of infection.

“Asking their families about their loved ones allows us to get to know the person we are nursing and ensures relatives are still  involved in their care.”

Hospital bosses are appealing to people with serious health concerns to seek urgent medical attention during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (HUTH) has seen a dramatic fall in urgent referrals from GPs and emergency admissions since the Government introduced a national lockdown four weeks ago.

Now, fears are growing that people with serious illnesses are placing their lives in further danger by not coming to Hull Royal Infirmary or Castle Hill Hospital soon enough for help.

Professor Russell Patmore, Consultant in Haematology and one of the trust’s Medical Directors, said: “We understand people may be worried about coming to hospital right now, either because they fear they’ll catch the virus or they think they’ll be a burden to us.

“We want to reassure everyone that we are there to help you and your loved ones, whether you’ve got a problem with your heart, you think you’re having a stroke, you’ve found a lump or anything else that’s causing concern.”

In a direct appeal to the public, Chief Operating Officer Teresa Cope said: “We are here when you need us.

“If you need to come to hospital, please be assured that we are taking every precaution  against COVID-19. Our staff are well-versed in infection control measures to keep you safe.

“Please do not stay away because you’re worried about catching the virus or are concerned you will be putting us under pressure.

“But, as always, use our emergency service wisely. Please do not come here with anything that could be treated by your GP or the Urgent Treatment Centres. You will be redirected if you come here with anything other than emergencies so call NHS 111 if you’re not sure where to go for help before turning up at Hull Royal.”

Like other NHS organisations around the country, HUTH cancelled non-urgent operations and outpatient appointments in March as part of national preparations to prevent the health service being overwhelmed.

However, patients requiring life-saving surgery and urgent treatment, such as those with cancer, have continued to attend both East Yorkshire hospitals.

Over the next few weeks, it is anticipated that some services including planned operations and other procedures will be reintroduced as latest analysis suggests the region may not experience the major surge in cases which had been originally forecast.

With social distancing working to lower the rate of infection, the trust will “step down” the number of wards on standby to accept COVID-19 patients and lower its critical care capacity from around 130 beds to just under 100.

However, staff will continue to be redeployed, recruited and retrained to support frontline services in the expectation that staff will care for patients co with COVID-19 for months rather than weeks.

Teresa Cope, leading the trust’s Gold Command in response to the outbreak, expressed sympathy to the families of the 79 patients who have died from COVID-19 since March 19.

She said: “They will never be just a number to us and their deaths drive us to help everyone affected by this terrible disease.

“Our strength has been our flexibility in reconfiguring resources coupled with the dedication and commitment of our fantastic staff. But we must respond to an ever-changing environment where no one can predict what the next few months will bring.

“Senior teams from every part of the trust are constantly reassessing and readjusting our response which means we are yet to go over 60pc bed capacity despite the rise in admissions.

“We know we may not have faced the peak yet. We know we may face more than one peak. And we know our staff could be dealing with COVID-19 for months.

“But we are now looking to the future and a ‘new normal’ where we can provide excellent hospital services alongside the care of patients with COVID-19.”

Test results suggest only a small proportion of people in Hull and the East Riding have become affected with COVID-19 because so many are following the rules to remain at home.

However, if people start to ignore Government guidance, there is real danger both hospitals will be put under severe strain by a large outbreak spreading through the local population.

Mrs Cope renewed her appeal for people to continue to stay at home, only making essential journeys and always remaining two metres apart from others outside your household to give the NHS a chance of coping with the virus.

“While so many uncertainties exist, we know social distancing measures are an effective way of halting the spread of infection,” she said.

“Please continue to stay at home to protect your NHS and save lives.”

Hospital staff in Hull have received a thank you message with a difference this morning.

Night staff finishing their shifts, hospital transport drivers starting their rounds, and health workers getting set for another day’s work on the Hull Royal Infirmary site were greeted with a giant ‘Thank you NHS’ message painted on the road.

The ‘thank you NHS’ message at the entrance to Argyle Street car park

Hull City Council arranged for the message, which appears once on Lansdowne Street just near to the HRI tower block and again at the entrance to the hospital’s Argyle Street car park, to be painted overnight.

Matt Jukes, Chief Executive of Hull City Council says:

“This is just a small recognition of the incredible work our NHS colleagues are doing during the current crisis.

“The message is one of thanks on behalf of all of the people of Kingston upon Hull to NHS staff working in these challenging times.

“It is a very small gesture, but we believe it’s a wonderful way to show NHS staff that they are all in the hearts and minds of a very grateful city.”

Chris Long, Chief Executive at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust says:

“In recent weeks, we have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of thanks of appreciation for NHS staff, and this is a fantastic show of support from one of our closest partners.

“Hull City Council’s special message which appeared this morning will no doubt have been a lovely surprise for hospital workers going home after a long night shift or staff just arriving for another day at work.

“We’re really grateful to colleagues at the local authority for thinking of us and bolstering our spirits in this way.”

A hospital doctor in Hull is asking people to look out for older friends and relatives as they spend more time indoors.

As older people continue to self isolate to protect themselves from coronavirus, Dr Yoghini Nagandran, Consultant Physician in Elderly Care and Dementia Lead for Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, says loved ones can still show they care from afar in a number of ways:

Dr Yoghini Nagandran (Photo: Marketing Humber)

“This is understandably a difficult time for all of us. Social isolation breaks up our routine, limits our physical freedoms, and means the social contact that people regularly enjoy – meeting friends, seeing family and so on – is severely restricted.

“For older people, and particularly for those who live alone or who are not particularly tech savvy, this can be incredibly isolating. And as the relative or loved one of an older person, it’s easy to worry or to feel bad about not being able to see or support someone who may be quite vulnerable.

“There are, however, plenty of things we can do to look out for older friends and relatives, even if we can’t physically spend time with them.”

Dr Nagandran continues:

“Regardless of age, it’s easy to underestimate the impact that social isolation can have from a mental and emotional point of view. People with dementia in particular can find the current situation confusing and frightening, so a daily phone call or message to say hello and ask how someone is doing shows that you care, and is a great boost for a person’s wellbeing.

A quick phone call can make a world of difference

“For older people who use technology more, social networking is a great way of connecting with the outside world, and options such as Facetime, Skype, and Whatsapp video calling are good for being able to see people as well as hear them, which can be particularly reassuring if you haven’t seen someone for a number of weeks now.

From a clinical perspective, social isolation and the restriction of normal daily activities do present a risk of physical deconditioning for older people in particular. It can almost be as simple as ‘use it or lose it’. Many older people enjoy playing with the grandchildren or spending time at the allotment, for example, but if they are no longer able to do these things, there is a real risk of their physical mobility and flexibility deteriorating, and in later life this can be very difficult to get back.

Food parcels can be a lifeline for older people

“In this case, it’s important to find ways of staying active while also staying safe. Exercise can help boost a person’s mood and general wellbeing, as well as keeping their muscles strong. Friends and family members could make suggestions based on their loved one’s interests, such as a bit of light gardening, gentle stretching or even baking; just something to keep people moving and maintain their dexterity and their cognitive skills.

“Friends and family can also look out for older people by identifying any risks in the home. While we want people to stay active, they are also spending more time within the same four walls, so it’s important that their home environment is as safe as it can be. Think about potential trip hazards such as rugs or uneven paths, whether certain jobs around the home can wait such as those which involve working at height, and even look at whether their slippers are past their best.

“Even if you physically can’t be with older friends or relatives, knowing that you’re looking out for them and playing a part in keeping them safe while the lockdown period continues can be incredibly comforting at this very difficult time.

“It’s important to remind our loved ones and our older people in society that they are not alone, and that we are all in this together.”

More top tips from Dr Nagandran:

• Good nutrition and hydration are important for both physical and mental well-being. Encourage your older loved ones to eat well, including plenty of fruit and vegetables, and consider delivering food parcels if your loved one is unable to leave the house
• Exercise is important. Workouts which can be performed within the home, such as the 10 Today audio workout from the BBC (https://10today.co.uk/tune-in/), are designed to help people move and stretch, and as it can be performed standing up or sitting down, this is suitable for all abilities
• Regular sleep patterns are also essential for health and wellbeing, so make sure the older people you care about are getting enough rest
• Frequent handwashing – wash hands regularly and for a minimum of 20 seconds each time to reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading. Even if your loved one doesn’t leave the home, there are still possible transmission risks such as when they have groceries delivered or their bins collected. Wash hands and clean surfaces with antibacterial wipes or sprays regularly.
• Keep your distance. Anyone can get coronavirus, anyone can spread it, and you may not even be experiencing symptoms. Whether it’s a chat over the garden fence or delivering groceries to the doorstep, practice social distancing and stay 2 metres apart.

• If you are supporting an older person in isolation, have a back-up plan ready just in case there’s an emergency and you are no longer able to support that person. It would be reassuring to you and the person you are taking care of to know that a trusted neighbour, friend or another family member could quickly step in should the need arise. Your plan could include the details of the person(s) you look after, any medication they are taking and where it is stored, GP/pharmacy contacts and details of any ongoing treatment they need, plus any mobility aids (e.g. walking frame or hoist) and anything else they need, such as glasses, hearing aids or dentures.

• Use the support available to you. Most local authorities have now set up initiatives and dedicated phone lines to support their most vulnerable residents, so if you are having difficulty supporting your loved ones or live a long way away, explore the sources of help you can tap into. Don’t forget many charities such as Age UK, Dementia UK and the Alzheimer’s Society also operate helplines and can provide advice or signpost to local sources of support.

The first laboratory samples in the country to test positive for COVID-19 went through their hands, but the specialist team of biomedical scientists at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust say it’s all in a day’s work.

Hull made the national headlines back in January when Castle Hill Hospital received the first two patients in the UK who went on to test positive for coronavirus.

Members of the Virology Team

Ordinarily, scientists and support workers in the trust’s virology (left) and microbiology (above) services spend their days testing hospital and GP surgery samples for anything from simple urinary infections through to meningitis.

But they’re no strangers to testing for respiratory diseases either, so as the potentially COVID-19 positive samples passed through the laboratories, it was just second nature for this team of scientists – for whom PPE is everyday attire – to perform their high risk procedures, safeguarding themselves and those around them.

Eleven weeks later, with coronavirus continuing to sweep the country, this 60-strong team of unsung heroes is now making direct contributions to prompt patient care and to ensuring critical services across the local health community can continue.

Alison Eyre, Acting Head of Pathology Services for the trust explains:

“It’s probably fair to say we were apprehensive but also a bit excited at the time those first swabs were processed through our labs. The call came in in the early hours of the morning, and while the actual results were formally confirmed by a laboratory outside Hull, the coronavirus outbreak was something we’d all seen escalating in previous weeks so we were fully aware of what it could be and how to respond accordingly.”

Within just a few weeks of the first cases passing through the labs, the team was able to start their own in-house testing, meaning the time it now takes to deliver a result has reduced to a matter of hours rather than days.

“Staff working in virology and microbiology have really pulled together to meet the expectations placed upon them,” Alison continues.

“Many of our scientists, associate practitioners and support workers have willingly extended their hours or changed their place of work, and some have changed the immediate teams they work within so that we can deliver a more extensive, seven-day service.

Biomedical scientist, Melanie Dawes, at work in the lab

“With national guidance changing regularly and new scientific information coming through all the time, the team has done so well to not only keep up with the latest directives, but we’ve managed to continue extending what we are able to do.

“Being able to test for COVID-19 in-house means patients can receive their results and begin treatment more quickly than before; this is also really important for our nurses, doctors and other frontline staff because it then enables them to make informed choices about how and where they care for those patients and how best to protect the people around them.

“As well as testing patients believed to have coronavirus, we also began testing symptomatic staff and those of neighbouring NHS organisations such as Humber NHS Foundation Trust and Yorkshire Ambulance Service just under two weeks ago. We’re using as much of our testing capacity as we have available for this purpose, meaning virology and microbiology staff are playing a direct role in keeping critical services running by determining which members of staff are able to return to work safely and who needs to stay away.”

Katie Kitchman was the biomedical scientist on call who processed the first COVID-19 positive samples

As part of a regional network of pathology services, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is even helping others outside the immediate area. Scientists  have been using their expertise and any spare capacity to support other hospitals across Yorkshire, such as Doncaster and Sheffield with staff and patient testing, reflecting the ethos that we are all truly ‘in it together’.

“They’ve been at the forefront of the local COVID-19 response from day one,” Alison continues.

“Because the testing processes are largely done behind the scenes, our scientists can often fail to get the recognition they deserve, but there’s no better time than right now to shine a light on just how big a role this amazing team is playing in caring for both our patients and our staff, and will continue to play in the days and weeks to come.

“Everyone is sharing the load, and they’re doing it with a smile on their faces; I’m incredibly proud of all the team.”