Dr Donna Dalgetty, a former PhD student, and former Medical and Nursing Fellow at the University of Edinburgh, is now an emergency doctor on the Isle of Wight. She gives us some amazing insights into life on the wards during the Covid19 pandemic: the ways in which the crisis is changing the competitive nature of the NHS, and giving doctors a greater sense of permission to look out for one another and themselves. Her team is bending over backwards in welcoming the new cohort of doctors who have been fast-tracked onto the wards. 

Donna talks about the challenges of delivering compassionate care through layers of Personal Protective Equipment, managing PPE with hearing aids, and being an accompanier at the time of death. We also hear what a lifeline it is to NHS workers to hear the nation cheering them on at 8pm on Thursdays.

For Coronavirus updates and advice,and FAQs please see the University webpages here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/news/covid-19

The Chaplaincy blogs ‘For Times Like These’ https://www.ed.ac.uk/chaplaincy/for-times-like-these are written specifically for mental health and wellbeing support during lockdown, as are these mindfulness virtual drop-ins: https://www.ed.ac.uk/chaplaincy/mindfulness-and-wellbeing/mindfulness-virtual-drop-ins

For University support

The University Listening Service (for students and staff) is continuing throughout the lockdown, listening.service@ed.ac.uk

Student Counselling Service, https://www.ed.ac.uk/student-counselling

Staff Counselling Service, https://www.ed.ac.uk/counselling-services/staff

If any of the issues in this broadcast have affected you and you’d like support, here are some helplines:

If you feel that you or someone you are with is in danger right now, please call 999

· Breathing Space 0800 83 85 87

· The Samaritans 08457 90 90 90

· Edinburgh Crisis Centre 0808 801 0414