Four of liverpool’s amazing NHS heroes reflect on the last 12 months

It’s a year since Boris announced lockdown and told us to stay home… and since then we’ve all been doing our bit to beat COVID-19 and get life – eventually – back to normal.

Throughout those 12 months, our NHS staff have been working 24/7, from treating those battling for life with the virus and, more recently, rolling out our record-breaking vaccine programme.

It’s been a massive effort from our National Health Service for which every one of us is grateful. 

A small snapshot of the last 12 months. A year we will never ever forget. #OneYearOn #LiverpoolLockdown. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/60NVxjVQsn

— The Guide Liverpool (@TheGuideLpool) March 23, 2021

And, while we applaud the frontline heroes who’ve saved the lives of so many of our loved ones, we wanted to mark the anniversary with a huge thank you to other NHS staff who have played their part in the fight against coronavirus and who also deserve the title of COVID hero. 

Like these amazing people…

Vickie Gallagher – health care assistant at Liverpool University Hospitals

Vickie’s role is mainly based around patient care, helping them with daily tasks like washing, dressing, and feeding.

Throughout the pandemic she has continued to do just that – and more.

She says: “During the pandemic, it’s been my role to try to keep our patients feeling calm and safe in the hospital environment.”

And, when our mental health and emotional state has been pushed to its limits, that’s never been more vital.

Well done Vickie!

Jonathan Hodgson, dialysis assistant at Aintree University Hospital

Working on the acute dialysis unit at Ward 14 at Aintree, Jonathan’s daily role as a dialysis assistant involves helping to remove excess water, solutes, and toxins from the blood of people whose kidneys can no longer perform these functions naturally.

He’s had loads of support from his ward manager and clinical director, but it can still be a pressured job.

Jonathan says: “On some days I have been working in the red zone dialysing COVID-19 positive patients, which can be very stressful.”

Thank you, Jonathan.

Gale Ewart, Receptionist/Administrator at Royal Liverpool University Hospital

Life is often varied when you’re a front-facing member of staff in one of the north west’s busiest hospitals, but Gale Ewart’s role has developed more than ever during the coronavirus crisis.

“During the first few months of the pandemic, alongside my role as an Emergency Department receptionist, I worked organising COVID-19 testing at the Royal and staff drive-in testing centre at the Dental Hospital.

“After this, I worked helping to arrange staff antibody testing.”

One of the things we have celebrated most in the last year is people’s willingness to rally round and step up when more was demanded of them.

Gale is a prime example of the spirit of NHS staff and others who are willing to do whatever it takes to ensure Covid is not the winner – but we are.

Erika Young, Trainee Nursing Associate, Aintree University Hospital

She may be at the start of her career, but Erika’s sums up everyone’s resolve to see us emerge from the pandemic stronger and more united than ever.

Erika says: “When the pandemic first started, I was a band 2 on Ward 23 (respiratory ward). It’s been an absolute whirlwind. The team on there had to pull together and what a wonderful team they are.”

Inspired by what she saw and continues to see, she adds: “I’ve since started my Trainee Nursing Associate apprenticeship on Ward 8, and even now the staff are still adapting.

“We adapt every single day, we learn, and we push through even after all the exhaustion.

“Together we will beat this pandemic.”

And we couldn’t have said that better ourselves.

It’s been a tough 12 months and the road ahead still stretches out in front of us, but we are further along it than ever.

Our thanks and gratitude go out to everyone, within the NHS – and outside it – who has worked tirelessly and relentlessly to help get through the crisis, and made a difference.

Thanks to all of them, one year on, we are getting there.