EAAA redeploy aftercare team of nurses

East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) help Covid-19 effort by redeploying Aftercare team of nurses

As the call went out for nurses to help during the was hugely surprised to be called down to London, pandemic, EAAA’s Aftercare Team responded but wanted to do as much as I could. Fortunately, wholeheartedly. Made up of four nurses, Aftercare there weren’t as many patients at the Nightingale supports EAAA patients throughout their recovery as anticipated and after six weeks, I wasn’t needed and updates the EAAA crews on patient outcomes. anymore. But it could have been a very different Before Aftercare was set up, the EAAA teams didn’t story. As nurses, we all felt the urge to support always know what happened to their patients. Now, the NHS as much as possible but also have a they not only get to know, and sometimes meet, commitment to EAAA.” their patients, but this aids continuous learning and EAAA Aftercare moving forward improvement. Aftercare also supports bereaved family Alison continued: “Our crews were quieter at the members. beginning of lockdown but now they are busy again, The Aftercare team is headed up by Alison Brett, who and so are we. There are lots of patients who need leads three nurses who work for EAAA while juggling our support. However, we are still adapting to new part-time nursing jobs. Georgie Sellick, Lisa Boyle and ways of working. We are unable to attend home visits Sue Gee support Alison as clinical liaison officers in the or arrange base visits for patients and their families respective areas where they are based in the region. to meet the crew who attended to them, but it is Aftercare during the peak of the pandemic vitally important that we’re still able to support our Georgie and Lisa both have extensive critical care patients via video, phone or email. nursing skills and both returned to work full time in “We help patients to understand what happened, the NHS early on. Alison was asked by the London Air the care and treatment they received and to support Ambulance to help set up a Family Support and Liaison them in their recovery, as best we can. We’re really team at the London Nightingale Hospital. It was luckily at EAAA to be able to provide this service and important that EAAA Aftercare kept going, so while I’m immensely proud of the way the team has also Alison was in London, Sue continued to balance her been able to help during the Covid-19 pandemic, too.” hospital work with her EAAA days. Looking back, Alison said: “It’s been a complete To learn more about the EAAA Aftercare Service, go whirlwind. While the Aftercare didn’t stop, we are to: www.eaaa.org.uk/aftercare all hugely grateful to EAAA for allowing us to adjust To get in touch if you have been helped by EAAA, call: our roles temporarily to help support the NHS. I 07495548110 or email aftercare@eaaa.org.uk 20 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

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05/12/2016 11:03