The voluntary services team have been invited to speak at a critical care conference about their work to keep in contact with the loved ones of patients on the intensive treatment unit (ITU).
Phillipa Haslehurst, voluntary services manager and Alison Lawrence, voluntary services deputy manager, will present at the Convenzis Critical Care Conference 2021: Learning from Crisis on 28 October.
Last year, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the voluntary services team developed a package of information sharing resources for the loved ones of patients on ITU, who were unable to visit due to COVID-19 restrictions.
They used an existing information resource – Explain My Procedure – and Pando, a secure messaging App, to keep in regular contact with patients’ relatives and friends.
Phillipa Haslehurst, voluntary services manager, said: “The result has been an incredible level of collaboration and joint working between ITU and voluntary services.
“We are looking forward to sharing our learning – we are committed to making a positive impact with compassionate care of our patients and support for their loved ones.”
Alison Lawrence, voluntary services deputy manager, added: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to share how we used these resources in critical care.
“We hope it will encourage others to roll out this service for patients and their families.”
Sharon McNally, director of nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals, said: “It is great to see the voluntary services team invited to present this hugely beneficial work on a national platform.
“We are dedicated to continuing to build on this success for the future.”