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"Fiona Sarpong Vijaya Munian" - Final edited version. In copyright. Source: Wellcome Collection.
"Fiona Sarpong Vijaya Munian", "Nurse - Acute Respiratory AND Ward Clerk - Acute Respiratory" at Newham University Hospital, filmed in artist's studio in October 2020.
Fiona Sarpong and Vijaya Munian describe the hospital as a diverse and multicultural environment, where colleagues feel like family. A role of the ward clerk is to ensure smooth operations by handling all administrative tasks for the ward. Alongside them, respiratory nurses provide specialized care for patients with breathing conditions.
Fiona Sarpong and Vijaya Munian recall how the reality of the pandemic struck suddenly, lockdown happened almost overnight without much time for preparation. They reflect on their first encounters with a COVID-positive patient. During the early days of the outbreak, protective equipment was minimal, just aprons and gloves, and there was no guidance from Public Health England on COVID testing.
To cope, staff leaned on each other for support. They talked, listened, and found small ways to lift spirits. Many had worked continuously without time off. An important source of strength was their manager, Petra, described as “the best manager ever.” They talk about feeling joy in working with colleagues and taking pride in helping patients recover. Seeing someone leave the ward after battling severe illness was the most rewarding experience for Fiona Sarpong and Vijaya Munian.
Keywords: High Dependency Unit (HDU), Death from Covid, Preparedness, PPE, Covid testing, Teamwork, Diversity