Nightingale News | 15.07.20

I hope you are keeping well and adapting to the gradual easing of lockdown and hopefully being able to see family and friends more, whilst following the government guidance. 

It is important that you continue to look after yourself as you ease back into your job or maybe taking on a new role. Our wellbeing support is still here for you during the Standby period. There is more information on this below. You can also find out more about the resources and facilities available on the Staff Hub. Please do take five minutes to have a look. 

As I mentioned in the last newsletter, these newsletters will continue, albeit less frequently, to reflect that our hospital isn’t currently in operation. But it is important we continue to have a conversation with you; to check in with how you are doing and also to keep you updated on any developments. We hope you continue to find these newsletters useful. If there is information you would like to see included, please email [email protected]. 

During Standby there is a small team continuing to support the Nightingale, and if you have any outstanding queries, you can find out who to contact here. Colleagues are also looking at how the lessons we learned from the Nightingale are shared more widely – within the North West health system and across the country. Building a hospital from scratch during a pandemic had lots of challenges, but it also provided some real opportunities to try to do things differently. It is so important that we share these learnings whatever the future of our hospital. There are a number of ways this is being taken forward. Please do get in touch with your Nightingale line manager if you would like to get more involved in this. 

Until next time,

Best wishes,

Professor Michael McCourt
Chief Executive

P.S The next newsletter will be issued on 29 July. Make sure to look out for it – as it will include a special memento of your Nightingale journey!

If you want to be kept updated on the Nightingale during Standby please ensure you inform us if your contact details change. Email any changes to [email protected].

The next Team Brief will be held virtually on Monday 3^rd August at 1pm. Joining details below:

Join Microsoft Teams Meeting
+44 20 3794 0272   United Kingdom, London (Toll)
Conference ID: 673 766 875#

The next Team Brief will be held virtually on Monday 6^th July at 1pm. Joining details below:

Join Microsoft Teams Meeting

+44 20 3794 0272  United Kingdom, London (Toll)
Conference ID: 980 272 421#

We have encouraged you in the Debriefs to reflect on your time at the Nightingale, the skills and abilities you developed, and what you have learnt about yourself and others. We know that as you return to your home and work spaces, the people around will not have had the same experiences as you, and this can prove to be challenging at times.

• Remember to be proud of your time and contributions while at the Nightingale.
• Pay attention to how this experience may have changed you or your practice – and how you can build on this moving forward.
• AND don’t forget you have a fabulous network of Nightingale colleagues around you.

To check-in for advice or guidance, or a virtual coffee please contact [email protected] or [email protected].

Please refer to the check-in document below.

Standby Staff Check-in: July 2020

We are really keen to find out more about your experiences of working at the Nightingale. We know members of our team joined us from so many different sectors and backgrounds; each bringing their own experience to their role. We want to help celebrate your contribution and will be collecting staff stories on our Staff Hub.  If you have a short blog (around 300 words) to share about your experience and learnings, please share it with [email protected] and the Communications Team will be in touch.

Physiotherapist Natasha Roberts has shared her story. She joined us from her normal role touring the world as part of the Women’s Tennis Association. She joined the AHP team at the Nightingale to support with rehabilitating our patients.

Natasha said:

“It’s very humbling, working with patients who have so much life experience and been through so much with Covid-19, and it was a great feeling every time we helped someone get well enough to go home to their carers and families.

“We had a great and unbelievably diverse team at Nightingale – we all came from different backgrounds including private practice, armed forces, returning retirees and more. I have been so humbled to work alongside each one of them, and we all learned from each other to provide innovative approaches to the patients’ rehabilitation. I have made new friends for life.”

“It makes you put everything into context and realise that life can throw anything at you at any time, but all you can do is embrace it, take one day at a time and do the best you can with true kindness and a positive attitude.”

You can read more about Natasha’s story here.

Throughout the life of NHS Nightingale Hospital North West, from build to standby, we have been fortunate to have a photographic record taken by award-winning Manchester-based photographer Joel Goodman.

Almost all of these photographs feature staff members either individually or in groups with colleagues and/or patients. A number of staff members have requested access to these photographs.

All photographs taken at NHS Nightingale North West are now available to view here. 

Please note that you cannot download photographs from this site.

If you would like to receive a high-resolution copy of any photograph, please e-mail [email protected] quoting the full file names of the images you request. Please note we cannot send any image in which patients are visible. 

Photographs are shared for personal use only. This means:

• You are authorised to display the photographs at home or in your personal workspace
• You are authorised to use an image of yourself on your personal social media accounts. If any other colleagues are visible on the photo, you must gain their permission before sharing it on social media.
• You are not authorised to share the photographs for publication by any other NHS organisation or by any external organisation.

The distribution process is managed by Camilla Sutcliffe, External Communications Manager, with support as necessary from NHS North West and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.

Please make sure you return any equipment, including locker keys, as soon as is practicable. Email Mirjana in the Estates and Facilities Team on [email protected]  to arrange.

For security reasons all ID passes have been deactivated. If you still require access to site please email Mirjana Liptrott, [email protected]. From Friday 3 July there will no longer be office space available for Nightingale staff. If you require access to office space, please contact Mirjana.

Catering services have also stopped on site for the Standby period. If you are working on site, please ensure to take refreshments and food with you.

The Staff Hub includes helpful information about the facilities on site, staff offers, how to access accommodation, useful information and contacts as well as previous copies of this newsletter. Please email [email protected] if there is important information you would like to see on the hub.

We send this update by email every Wednesday and you can see previous editions here. Please email [email protected] if you would like us to use an alternative contact.