Our Covid-19 time capsules
What's inside (l-r): Gloves, facemasks, ribbons used in our annual reflection services, memory sticks containing films from the pandemic, PPE gowns, lateral flow tests, knitted hearts given to relatives of those critically ill in intensive care, glass rainbows of hope made by Dr Michelle Scott, yellow hearts made by the relative of a patient, a book of reflections from Team UHD, Covid vaccines, FFP3 face masks, and a compilation of all the signage displayed as we journeyed through the pandemic.
In March 2024, we held special services at RBH, Christchurch and Poole and buried a Covid time capsule on each site. Items in the capsules were chosen by our staff, and include a special book of reflections with a number of photos and recollections from those of us working in the NHS through the pandemic.
We plan to open these capsules again on the 100th anniversary of the NHS – 5 July 2048.
The chosen sites are marked a memorial stone and have created a lasting space to reflect on the pandemic, the way it changed NHS life as we know it, and the very personal impact it had on ourselves and our loved ones.
Covid-19: A book of reflections from Team UHD
Signs of the times: Communicating our way through Covid During the pandemic, we worked with local and national media to share what was happening in our hospitals, and made a number of our own films to support colleagues and patients. Click the links below to view our favourites:
BBC South Today a minute silence 2020
We held a very special Service of Remembrance and minute’s silence on Tuesday 28 April to honour all workers who have died from coronavirus. The service featured on BBC national news, including an interview with our Deputy Director of Nursing, Fiona Hoskins.
Poole Patient leaving after 35 days
One of our patients leaves critical care after 35 days recovery to rapturous applause from staff.
BBC South Today week 3 Clap for NHS staff
A BBC South today segment celebrating how we clapped for our NHS staff across the south, featuring the Royal Bournemouth Hospital and Dorset Police.
BBC South Today report on antibody testing
In June 2020, NHS staff were offered antibody testing across Dorset which have been carried out at Poole Hospital. This will helped with future planning and allowed our services to return to normality.
BBC South Today evening news follows night shift
Alastair Fee from BBC South Today spent an evening at RBH to find out from staff about the impact of Covid-19 across our hospitals as our numbers of patients continues to rise.
Colleagues from across our hospitals reflect on the pandemic, how it impacted our services, patients and themselves.
ITV Emily Morgan report from ICU at RBH
Reporting from our ICU, Emily Morgan meets colleagues and patients working under the strain of Covid-19. We meet Linda New as she moves into our Covid ward at RBH and learn how clinical site teams manage the flow of our hospitals.
As we celebrated International Nurses Day, we acknowledged that 2020 was a year like no other for our nurses and midwives across our hospitals. We celebrated who they are both inside and outside our hospitals.
Self-testing using a lateral flow device
Lateral flow devices became a big part of our lives, so we created this handy video to help our patients and staff take the tests safely.
Behind every Covid-19 test, is a biomedical scientist. We used Biomedical Science Day as a chance to celebrate our scientists’ vast and vital contribution to the coronavirus response.
Laura Purandare, our Head of Research and Innovation spoke to Forest FM about the new trial at RBH to find a vaccine for Covid-19.
ITV Lorraine show interview with Linda a Covid-19 survivor at RBCH
Our patient Linda New was interviewed on the Lorraine Show as part of its NHS Heroes Day. Linda featured on ITV news as she was clapped out of ICU and is now at home recovering from Covid-19. She was virtually joined on the show by our critical care consultant Dr Michelle Scott and spoke about how well she was cared for by our wonderful staff.
Chaplaincy team's response to Covid-19
Multi-faith members of the chaplaincy teams from both Royal Bournemouth Hospital and Poole Hospital about how they have adjusted what they do to assist patients and relatives in need of chaplaincy services during the pandemic.
Staff wellbeing support during Covid-19Staff wellbeing support during Covid-19
We adapted our wellbeing support during Covid-19 to make sure we supported our colleagues during the difficulties of the pandemic.
During the pandemic we all had a role to play in keeping ourselves and each other safe. It was vital that we wore the correct PPE and disposed of it correctly.
How did our hospitals prepare for winter in 2020? Our clinicians spoke to Hugh Pym about how we are planning to maintain routine services and deal with any rise in Covid-19 cases.
Resumption of services at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital
BBC South Today report into how our hospital is preparing to resume further services following the Covid-19 pandemic. The feature highlights the work of our Eye Unit in treating patients with sight-saving surgery, illustrating the precautions we are taking to avoid infection.
Research team leading the fight against Covid in world-first vaccine booster trial 2021
We were incredibly proud to be leading the fight against Covid 19 in a world first vaccine booster trial.
University Hospitals Dorset's Covid-19 Service of Reflection
Taking place on March 2022, services at Christchurch Hospital, Poole and the Royal Bournemouth Hospital will include readings by members of staff and the observation of a national minute's silence at 12noon.
Our colleagues will be tying ribbons to trees to remember all the sacrifices made during the pandemic and all our patients, including those who have sadly died.
As our chief executive Debbie Fleming explains, it is hoped that this opportunity to pause and reflect will help us all in moving forward.
