A nurse has praised an operating theatre team’s togetherness as she reflects on its response to COVID-19.
The team has been at the centre of activity over the last 12 months.
Over this time, there have been periods where non-urgent elective surgery has had to be postponed to allow critical patients to be treated during the pandemic.
Dawn Buchanan, nurse lead in the team, said: “Teamwork is the backbone to a productive operating theatre. From managers, surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses, operating department practitioners, theatre support workers, domestics, stores, sterile services, estates, radiographers to reception staff as well as so many more.
“They all contribute to the safe, effective and high quality care for our patients throughout their operating theatre journey.”
The team works cross-site at both the University Hospital of North Tees and University Hospital of Hartlepool.
Dawn added: “Cross-site working brings us together to work as one and adapt to new working practices.
“For example, during the pandemic looking after patients with Covid, moving operating lists at short notice to theatres in other parts of the hospital or to a different site.
“This winter we have had extra pressures due to the weather and increase in patients needing emergency surgery and with the help from all of our team we have been able to have extra trauma and emergency lists running every day.”
For more information about elective surgery, visit the NHS website.