COVID-19: Health Board Marks Day of Reflection

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is joining organisations across the UK in reflecting on the COVID-19 pandemic.

On the two-year anniversary of the UK first entering lockdown, the Health Board is supporting a moment’s silence and illuminating its sites as part of the national COVID-19 Day of Reflection.

The day is an opportunity to recognise the impact of the pandemic on healthcare workers, patients and communities throughout Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, across the nation and globally.

Ahead of the first lockdown in March 2020, the Health Board faced monumental operational pressures as the first wave of COVID-19 took hold. Staff did their utmost to stave off the virus and treat patients as circumstances grew increasingly challenging. 

In the weeks and months that followed, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) became an essential part of daily life with staff throughout the organisation working long hours in uncomfortable conditions to treat critically ill patients, support their recovery, rapidly test samples and sanitise health board sites around the clock.

The COVID-19 Test, Trace and Protect Programme delivered locally by Health Board staff in collaboration with Cardiff Council, Vale of Glamorgan Council and colleagues in the armed forces, quickly became an essential part of limiting the spread of the virus to help keep people safe and reduce pressure on health services. 

Meanwhile, Cardiff and Vale UHB became the first UK Health Board to open the RECOVERY clinical trial, which found Dexamathasone to be the first drug to improve survival in COVID-19. It was the first of many significant breakthroughs that the Health Board’s research staff have contributed to working at the forefront of global research as part of the pandemic.

The Health Board’s estate underwent significant transformation, from the establishment of Ysbyty Calon Y Ddraig which saw the Health Board work with a host of partners to transform Wales’ national stadium into a hospital with capacity for 2,000 patients in a matter of weeks, the creation of the Protected Elective Surgery Unit, which has enabled the Health Board to safely undertake far in excess of 10,000 surgical procedures during the pandemic, and the construction of Lakeside Wing, providing surge capacity at the University Hospital of Wales following the decommissioning of Ysbyty Calon Y Ddraig.

Staff worked innovatively to find new ways of delivering services digitally, with the emergence of video consultations to enable remote appointments, the development of digital support for patients such as the Keeping Me Well digital rehabilitation resource, and the expedited roll out of home working capabilities.

Local business and Members of the community also stepped up to the mark, showing their support to NHS staff at their doorsteps and donating tens of thousands of meals, desserts and toiletries to staff via the Staff Havens, which were established and coordinated by the Cardiff & Vale Health Charity with support from various Health Board departments.

Charles ‘Jan’ Janczewski, Chair of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, said: “The past two years have been incredibly difficult for us all, and our lives have changed immeasurably during that time.

“Our staff have gone to incredible lengths during the past two years, working tirelessly and making huge personal sacrifices to find new ways to safely treat patients in the most challenging circumstances we’ve ever faced.

“As new challenges continued to arise, colleagues in clinical and non-clinical roles pulled together and stepped up time and time again to respond to them, often setting their own wellbeing aside to care for patients and save countless lives.

“Sadly, that has come at a real cost. Our staff are exhausted as they continue to go above and beyond in the face of unrelenting pressure, and we have been devastated with the tragic loss of Jitu, Gareth, Julianne, Allan and Dominga to the virus, five much-loved colleagues who are sorely missed and remain in our hearts.

“I would like to pay tribute to our communities and partners across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, and of course our staff, who have all played valuable roles in responding to the pandemic. People will remember how we pulled together for generations to come.”

The Health Board has also played a crucial role in turning the tide against the virus, delivering in excess of one million vaccinations as part of the COVID-19 Mass Vaccination programme, which in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan has seen current and former healthcare staff from across primary and secondary care working alongside partners and volunteers to deliver the vaccine at three Mass Vaccination Centres and across the community.

Now, a key focus of the organisation is to restore and improve access to services that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, transform clinical pathways and in doing so, enhance services for patients and communities through the ambitious Recovery and Redesign programme.

The programme aims to identify and implement innovative approaches to health care to help reshape the way services deliver care for people in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, and beyond.  

Suzanne Rankin, Chief Executive of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, said: “When people look back on the COVID-19 pandemic in years to come, they will do so with a variety of emotions and memories, but there will be a huge sense of pride for how the NHS responded to it.

“The number and scale of achievements made by the Cardiff and Vale UHB team alongside our partners in the face of such adversity during the pandemic, is really inspiring.

“As we increasingly learn to live with COVID-19 and look to the future I am looking forward to working with our teams to harness and build upon their achievements, so that our health services can recover and deliver the best possible care for our patients.”