Media Release
Date: 18 May 2021
End of life - RUH Bath staff share experiences of providing outstanding COVID-19 care
As the latest lockdown restrictions are lifted this week, staff at the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust have shared their experiences of caring for patients who have died during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a 12-minute video the staff, including junior doctors, a Critical care nurse and a hospital chaplain reflect on the moment of end of life and the effect it continues to have on their work and their personal emotions.
The Trust shared the video with its staff via internal channels during last week's national Dying Matters Awareness Week. It had such a big response that it's been decided to make the film public for a wider audience to hear first-hand what was happening in the RUH and in hospitals and healthcare settings across the UK.
The video, called 'Caring to the very end' was made as a staff learning resource and to help staff physical and mental health and wellbeing. Outside of the RUH the film will be shared with the South West Palliative and End of Life Care Network and organisations for improving patient care and providing healthcare staff with practical and emotional support.
Helen Meehan, RUH Lead Nurse for Palliative and End of Life Care said: "Caring for people nearing end of life and supporting their families is one of the most important things we do here at the RUH. We are so incredibly thankful to the staff that shared their very personal experiences of caring for patients and families during the pandemic. The film is so powerful and so moving, and we feel it could help staff from across the trust and other hospitals to reflect and talk about how it has been for them."
The film - which some people might find upsetting - can be seen on YouTube here:
See It My Way - Caring to the very end