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Anthony Hicks, Clerical Assistant

Eyes; that once burned with flames of life

sea grey, deeper than the oceans depths,

Are fading and clouding into coming night

dimming into twilight and their final rest.

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Submitted by Carole
Nurse

Wearing ppe
all the time
was ok but
the masks
made me hot

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Submitted by Wendy
Superintendent Neuroradiographer

That first encounter of the masked face and covered gown
The sparkle of a smile from the eyes that care, that says so much
Assurance of safety in a frightening world
A simple touch of gloved hand
That says “we care”
The muffled voices behind the shield coexist
With the gentle look of a carer’s warmth
The stark contrast of a diagnostic environment
To the welcoming voices of confidence
That says “we care”
The reassuring knowledge of company in a lonely mind
Communication turned upside down,
Hastening of a quickly adapted change of professionalism
Eager to comfort the individual, alien to our world
Eyes ready to envelope the heart of one so poorly
That says “we care”
A simple look, a simple touch no time consuming effort
Yet enormous in its translation
In its acceptance to the patient first
These are the eyes that smile
That say “we care”

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Submitted by Lucinda, Senior House Officer

Under dim lights
On nights
Twilights,
When woken with fright,
I write
To make sense of the plight,
This fight
For their right
To simply breathe
Firing down thoughts
to learn lessons not taught
These battles hard fought
Of an invisible foe,
this constant onslaught
Until the day when those dying is nought
We must do all that we can do
For
if I could
I would
give
my breath
to you

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Submitted by Louisa
Nurse

I’m sorry I didn’t get you that pillow
I know you’re not one to complain
lying proned on your front is great for your chest, but it’s becoming a bit of a pain

And I know it’s “just for comfort”
Because you always have three back at home
And you’ve been here for two days, and you’re still feeling bad, and you’re starting to feel all alone

Everyone that’s here wants to help you
But we know it’s not quite the same
As someone that strokes your hair, and holds your hand, and knows you by more than your name

I really wish I could be all you need,
But I’m afraid there’s just not the time,
Peoples SATS are low, and meds are due, and the ambulances are forming long lines

I’m still feeling so new in my role
My shift starts to feel like a race
Another patient still feels like their drowning, with a 15 litre mask tight on their face.

And my own mask is tight and itchy
And my visor keeps steaming up
And through my gown and my gloves there isn’t much I can do when all you want is some human touch

And when I get to lay on my pillow
Once I’m home and my shift is through
I lay and think of my day, with a pang in my chest, because I forgot to go find one for you.

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‘Mundane Compliance’ by Eilidh,

Health Records Clerk

Stay at home!
Usually do
now I have to
too tired to do anything else
as the cells in my body
are peculiar
kept in check (shielding me)
with toxicity
and bugs (?)
“not going near that”!
keep their distance

Distance
so used to the gap
between
me
and the rest of
humanity
so a little further
apart…
no change

Save lives!
So I wear a mask
and gloves
doing my weekly shop
hoping others
keep away
Keep away
walk around
quick, quick, quickly quick
until back
behind closed doors
I knit
I crochet
I no longer sing
or play my sax
(protect the neighbours ears
and my tenancy)
and read

in my imagination
I’m in my hermitage
practicing scales
riffs
singing to seals
and sky
growing vegetables
and fruit
being a beachcomber
of sights, smells, sounds

of touch
knitting them
together
not with determined
patience
crocheting them
not in mindful boredom
but
the skeins are taut
I have to loosen
the tension

heartstrings
at breaking point
the mundanity
of loss
mashed down
into another banana bread

another day
another week
where my colleagues
work without me
the NHS staggering on
and me
my injected
protected body
yawns on in
mundane compliance.

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Today I’ve witnessed true sadness in this time of complete madness,
Strangers who need our help and care
Are now told their bodies are beyond repair…
We try to comfort through visor and mask, as things around us change so fast…
But we carry on and do our best, for us it would be nothing less
And as we doff and walk away
Reflecting on our busy day
Our colleagues all agree there’s no place we’d rather be

(Written in the middle of the night when I just couldn’t sleep)

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Submitted by Katie Eaves
Midwife

Masks on
Breathe in
Out,
Everything seems slow
Can’t properly hear,
Words muffled,
Need to speak loud, clear
Gloves, gown, tied up right
Visor covers face,
Vision reflecting the light
Feeling the heat,
Sweat
Entering another dimension
Sight, sound distorted
A strange kind of zen
The world beyond
Seeming forgotten
Far away
Caring for those
In the red area zone
Stranded from all
No friends or family
All visitors banned
Some so sick
Every breath exhausts them
Unable to eat or speak
Just battling the disease
Others ventilated
Lying prone
Face down
Sedated, asleep
Critically unwell
Some never make it
The heart break for family
So tragic, so devastating
No words
Just raw pain
Losing a loved one
A father, mother,
partner,
Sister, brother
Sometimes a daughter or son
Families calling
Via iPads and phones
Desperate To see them,
Hug them
Last moments together
Calling out for them to live
Weeping from a glass screen.
A voice I can hear
‘Don’t leave me, I love you’
The nurses by their side
Doing their best to keep them alive
With high tech machines,
Lines, wires and drugs galore
And behind the masks
Kindness
The purest of medicines
With wisdom, care
Professionalism, skill
Eyes that reassure
A hand held
Love
This all we will never forget

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Submitted by Susie
Consultant Microbiologist

It all began on March 23rd
When we couldn’t believe what we heard
Recent news was everything viral
Leading us to a downward spiral
We were forced like Europe into lockdown
By a virus sporting a spiky crown
Already we’d been told to home school
Which had initially felt almost cool

Ideally all had to work from home
Shopping to find no flour, to be done alone
No chance of going to a party or wedding
Or seeing parents with the virus spreading
Exercise but once a day
And only with household members stay
We miss our sports, football, hockey and tennis
This has really turned out to be a menace!

A silver lining that lockdown dictated
Ensured time with the family was obligated.
There’s so many new hobbies like going for a jog,
Baking bread or writing a blog
Where once the garden was full of weeds
Now it’s raked and sown with seeds.
The cars now look bright and even posher
Following their clean with the pressure washer.

We’ve mastered many new phrases and words
For example immunity is good in herds.
COVID-19 was an unknown word
And social distancing, would have been quite absurd
And think of those put out to furlough
Now sitting at home drinking Merlot
Social evenings are held on Zoom
Being together, not in the same room

For many there’s been heartache and pain
And they know life will never be the same
Thursdays deliver the NHS clap
Along with all key workers a slap on the back
VE Day celebrations were somewhat muted
As the 2 metre rule couldn’t be disputed
However, it made us ponder on the hardships of war
And how we are really not so poor

Is the end nigh, now we’re in May?
Is there a vaccine on the way?
We hope to stay fit and take new rules in our stride
We’ll make our actions something to pride
Surprising benefits may be unfurled
In this distinctly upside down world
And when we emerge to something more formal
Who knows life may be better in this new normal?

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By Nikil, Consultant Paediatrician

When we win over the virus,
My little one said to her best friend,
We will do a bigger birthday party than one cancelled,
And have crazier play dates than we had planned
When we win over the virus,
I thought to my workmate,
I will come to all the drinks that you suggest
And go for beach volley ball and half marathon
When we win over the virus,
I said to my wife,
We will go and see our parents
And have holidays again.
When we win over this virus,
I have a gut feeling,
We will all be different people
Shaken but wiser and stronger!

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A prayer for the NHS and all keyworkers by Gemma-Kirstie

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A prayer for the NHS and all keyworkers by Gemma-Kirstie

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A poem

Green, grey, yellow, teal, white and blue,
PPE in ever-changing hue,
Colours mashed together all as one,
Our work to care in never done.
Colleagues there when we need a boulder,
To help share the burden on our shoulder,
Barely recognising each other through the PPE,
Always there in patients time of need.
Staying strong throughout our work,
From porters, nurses, housekeepers and the ward clerk,
Helping one another day by day,
Even through all the uncertain disarray.
Now we have come through the pandemic,
Learned so much from scientists and academics,
Striving through our professions,
We have learned so many lessons.

A Prayer

Lord,
I ask you to take care of all those who are unwell with Covid-19. Be with them and give them strength to fight the virus. I ask you to watch over every one of them and help them recover with the will only you have.

I offer my prayer to everyone who has lost someone to Covid-19 on this one year anniversary. Prayers for those left behind that they may find comfort and light to help them through a difficult time. Lord, give prayers to all NHS and care workers looking after those with Covid-19. Be with the country as we hot a big milestone. Be with those who have beaten Covid-19 and survived this terrible virus. I pray that we come out of this pandemic soon.

Lord, shine your light of hope and peace and a light to help those in dark times struggling with grief.

Lord, give comfort and your holy spirit and shine a light to let them know you are there. I light a candle each week at mass.

Amen