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Credit
Pragna Katariya's film - Final edited version. In copyright. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Pragna Katariya, Healthcare Assistant - Acute Respiratory at Newham University Hospital, filmed in artist's studio in October 2020.
Pragna Katariya's job is to provide essential support to patients by helping with their physical comfort and personal care needs. She works closely with nurses and other healthcare professionals to make sure patients’ basic needs are met with dignity and respect. She became a Healthcare Assistant as a step toward her goal of becoming a nurse.
Pragna Katariya describes the challenges during the COVID 19 pandemic: patients arriving from the emergency department, being moved to side rooms if positive, and the heavy reliance on CPAP and BiPAP machines, sometimes with equipment shortages. Supporting dying patients, especially when families could not visit, was the biggest emotional challenge for her. She recalls a particularly difficult case where she stayed with a patient during her final hours and helped her speak to her daughter.
Pragna highlights the emotional toll on staff but also the strong teamwork and family like bond that developed within the Respiratory Unit. She recalls how colleagues supported one another with practical needs like food and shopping. She expresses gratitude for her supportive team and Ward Manager, who provided training, PPE, and guidance throughout the crisis.
Pragna Katariya embraced the community’s “Clap for Carers” initiative and was touched when her neighbours recognised her work for the NHS.
Keywords: Death from Covid, Teamwork, Faith, High Dependancy Unit (HDU), Leadership