Publish date: 30 September 2020
Val, a Rehabilitation Therapy Services Instructor at Broadmoor Hospital, has spent a number of months isolated as she had to shield during lockdown. Val tells her story.
In my role at Broadmoor Hospital I use my sewing skills and creativity to teach patients basic sewing and repairing. This helps develop their confidence in doing something for themselves, such as sewing a button back on a shirt. I support patients who like to make some crafty items for their families. I also offer AQA units to patients who would like to gain a qualification.
Once I started shielding in March, it meant that I wasn’t able to go to work, teach or provide support to patients. My manager, Venus kept in regular contact and in July thought of a way for me to work safely from home. She thought it would be good to put my skills to use and make face masks for staff to keep them safe. This also gave me something to focus on, a purpose and the knowledge that I was helping others, while shielding.
Venus found a face mask sewing pattern that was compliant with government guidelines, and following feedback from staff I created a new design that was more comfortable to wear. Venus organised for the materials to be provided to make the masks. The masks have been really popular with staff at Broadmoor, particularly those who were travelling on public transport. Due to such high demand the vocational team also helped with sorting the materials and cutting out patterns so that I could make the masks quicker. It was quite the production line.
We don’t charge for the face masks, we just ask for a donation to cover the cost of the materials and goes back into vocational services to support activities for patients.
Initially Venus asked a member of staff who lives near me to deliver materials and collect the masks, but as the shielding measures eased off, Venus encouraged me to meet with her at the hospital reception. I guess it’s good as I haven’t been to work for so long I might have forgotten how to drive to work!
I’m looking forward to returning to work, although I feel that I’ve lost a bit of confidence as I have not met with many people and have been away from work for so long. However, I am sure I’ll be fine after a while.
Top tips for those who have been shielding:
I think you do need to keep a bit of a balance. Also it is important to keep things in perspective, for example, I watch the news to be kept up to date, but not to the extreme. Have a positive outlook that things will get better; we will get through this just like we have in the past.
I also think being able to work from home, contributing to the services, help me greatly. It is like what occupational therapy is about, engaging in meaningful activities.
Tips for colleagues for when they return to work:
Just to continue with the measures that we have got in place like washing hands, social distancing and wearing PPE.