21 January 2021
Earlier this week [Tuesday 19th January] The Duchess of Cambridge, Patron of the Nursing Now campaign, spoke to nurses with a variety of different roles at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust about their experiences during the pandemic and why their profession is so important.
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust (UHCW) employ 2,428 nurses and midwives, and on the 8th December 2020 May Parsons, a matron at the Trust, made international headlines after delivering the first COVID-19 vaccine in the world to Margaret Keenan. Since then, a total of 447,329 vaccines have been delivered across the Midlands, with more taking place every day.
Her Royal Highness hailed the vital role that nurses are playing in the vaccine roll-out and spoke with Caroline Rudd and Judith Smith, two retired nurses who first met when they began training as nurses working at UHCW in 1978 and have returned to the NHS together to help with the vaccination programme in care homes. The Duchess also spoke to Professor Nina Morgan, Chief Nursing Officer and Vasu Lingappa, a Critical Care Outreach Practitioner about caring for critically ill patients and the impact that this can have on staff wellbeing.
During the call, Her Royal Highness heard about the professionalism and adaptability of nurses at the Trust. Joe Colby, Lead Nurse for Gastroenterology, told The Duchess how he had originally worked in a high street bank before training to become a nurse. Judith and Caroline, who are now employed by Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust, also spoke to The Duchess about how they were proud to answer a call from the NHS to re-join the workforce and help fight back against COVID-19 by delivering vaccines to patients and staff alike.
The Duchess of Cambridge, said: “You hear time and time again about the amazing things nurses up and down the country are doing - going that extra mile. It’s the things that are not part of the training […] but the things that come from your heart, and I think that’s what matters so much now: these acts of kindness to the patients you’re looking after.”
Professor Nina Morgan, Chief Nursing Officer at UHCW NHS Trust, said: “We were incredibly proud that members of our hard-working Nursing team had the opportunity to share their experiences with the Duchess of Cambridge. It was such a special way to acknowledge how hard everyone has been working.
“The Duchess was genuinely interested in learning more about the challenges our staff were facing professionally and the impact on their home lives, as well as the way everyone has pulled together during these challenging times. We are all very grateful to the Duchess for her support and for taking the time to listen to our stories. It has been a fantastic boost for morale.”
Throughout the pandemic, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have met NHS staff in person and virtually to hear about the remarkable work they have been doing throughout the pandemic and pass on their thanks. Last week The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge spoke with frontline workers and counsellors about the mental health impact of the COVID-19 crisis for those working on the frontline, and why it is vital that they are able to reach out for support at such a critical time.
The Nursing Now campaign, of which The Duchess has been patron since 2018, aims to raise the profile of nurses globally. Nursing Now works with partners around the world to advocate for more nurses in leadership positions and help them access better education and training, while also supporting them to share research and evidence of effective practice.
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON BLOOD TESTING DUE TO COVID-19
If you are experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, e.g. fever, loss of taste or continuous new cough, please DO NOT attend for a blood test.
Click on the map for information about phlebotomy clinics in Coventry. You can book an appointment online at the locations in red.
Please book an appointment before attending for a blood test. Click on the ‘Book Online’ button above. Booking an appointment helps patients, their carers and family members to plan their hospital visit better, helping to reduce clinic waiting times and enabling patients to be seen much more quickly.
Location: Outpatients Department, on the ground floor. Opening hours: 8am-4.45pm, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).
Children under 16 years old will need to book online here.
Please book an appointment before attending for a blood test, click on the ‘Book Online’ button above. Patients from Rugby and the surrounding areas are able to access the Friends Blood Taking Unit at the Hospital of St Cross.
Referrals for blood tests can be from GP's, practice nurses or from hospital consultants. Patients are also able to leave other samples, such as urine, which have been collected at home, at the hospital's Pathology Reception.
Location: Near Brookfield House, just off North Road - map here. Opening hours: The blood taking clinic sessions for adults and children are listed below:
Monday -Friday 7am-4:45pm Appointment only
Wednesday Evening 5pm-7pm Suspended due to COVID
Saturday Morning 7am-10pm Suspended due to COVID
April 2020 NEW - This Clinic is now by appointment. Please book an appointment before attending for a blood test. Click on the ‘Book Online’ button above.
Address: Stoney Stanton Road, Coventry CV1 4FS Location: Access is via the main doors, the Phlebotomy team are in Area A. Opening hours: Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays). 8am–4.45pm
Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT)
Specialist Tests - There are a small number of specialist tests where blood needs to be taken on a hospital site as the sample must be transferred to the laboratory rapidly for the test to be undertaken. Click here for a list of these specialist tests and to find out more.