Physios join the frontline to help in Covid wards
Kathleen happy to step in 20 years after she last worked in intensive care
EMYLIE HOWIE
A Rutherglen nurse stepped in to an unfamiliar critical care role to help in the fight against coronavirus.
A number of NHS Lanarkshire physiotherapists, along with other allied health professionals, volunteered to go into the life-saving facility of ICU wards to assist nursing and medical colleagues to treat patients who were critically ill with COVID-19.
Orthopaedic physio Kathleen Longmuir hadn’t worked in an intensive care unit (ICU) for 20 years when she went back into the challenging environment at University Hospital Hairmyres.
She said: “I was out of my comfort zone, but I felt I had the skills to help and we had some intensive training.
“Two decades on, some things remained familiar, including ‘proning’
– turning patients on to their stomachs to help with their oxygen levels.”
The 12-strong physio team carried out regular duties such as chest physio for patients needing their passages cleared, optimally positioning patients and “mobilising” them where it was appropriate.
“There was some initial anxiety, but we were there for a month, and it became a normal job for us,” added Kathleen, who said she was well trained and supported by ICU medics, nurses and managers, particularly in undertaking the aspects of personal patient care.
“This was an emotional journey, working with such severely ill patients, not knowing what the outcome would be.
“We felt invested in all the patients, particularly when we would read the information about their lives before this illness happened.
“We’re prepared to step up again if there is a second wave.”
NHS Lanarkshire head of physiotherapy services Claire Rae was full of praise for the staff and said: “I’m immensely proud of the team, who faced up to the harsh emotional challenges of working in ICU as the virus escalated and, sadly, saw patients lose their lives to the disease. The situation was even more challenging for them all due to the need to wear full PPE.
“Working alongside the ICU nursing and medical staff, physios took on 12hour shifts which included duties which are more associated with nursing staff, such as monitoring patients and helping with their personal care.
“They all had appropriate training from both their physiotherapy and nursing colleagues, and it was a measure of their commitment that physios who normally work in areas such as orthopaedics or women’s services had no hesitation in joining their colleagues who regularly work in critical care.”
I was out my comfort zone, but I felt that I had skills to help