Meet Liverpool’s NHS Heroes: Aintree Hospital Critical Care Matron, Emma Addie

As we edge nearer to 2021 this week on The Guide Liverpool we are shining a spotlight on Liverpool’s NHS heroes. From the porters to the doctors, nurses to the paramedics – we will be meeting teams across the city and hearing how they have supported us through 2020.

Staff have made extraordinary sacrifices and put themselves, their own lives and health, at risk to save others.

We can’t overestimate just how vital their efforts have been since the pandemic began, and especially those who’ve kept our hospitals operating in incredibly difficult times. 

As the year comes to an end, we look back on how NHS staff across our Liverpool City Region hospital have coped, their experience of working on the frontline, their plans for Christmas and hopes for 2021.

On Monday we met Broadgreen Hospital Ward Sister, Emily McGuffie. On Tuesday we moved to the Royal Liverpool University Hospital to meet Edna, a nurse who has been working on COVID wards in the city. Yesterday we met Neil Fletcher, a porter at Aintree Hospital and today we shine a light on Critical Care Matron, Emma Addie.

Emma Addie is Aintree University Hospital’s newly appointed Critical Care Matron, and will be working her first Christmas in ten years to help care for our city’s most vulnerable patients. Emma has been on the frontline during both waves of the coronavirus pandemic and is hopeful of a happier and healthier 2021.

 “This year has been unlike any other in my lifetime, coronavirus has without doubt been the biggest challenge our hospitals and the NHS have ever faced.

“I’ve seen how devastating this disease can be, but alongside that I have witnessed first-hand, day in day out, the courage, compassion and determination of my colleagues.

“Coronavirus may have caused us to keep a physical distance from others, but in another way it has brought us all closer together.

“Collectively, our city can accomplish anything when we put our minds to it and by continuing our endeavours to stop the spread of coronavirus, I’m confident life will return to something like normal in the New Year.

“I will be ensuring my team and patients enjoy the festivities as safely as possible. Whilst you are a celebrating with your family and friends, please remember hands, face and space. Keep your loved ones safe as there are better times on the horizon.”