By working together, we will control the virus and stop its spread

This year has been unlike any other. The coronavirus pandemic has seen Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust strengthen its key services.

Not only have we adopted new ways of working, we redeployed community staff to the front line to ensure our most poorly and vulnerable patients continued to receive the care they needed.

Protecting our staff by providing them with the tools and techniques to effectively treat their patients was at the forefront of our thinking as the country moved into one of the most unprecedented periods of modern times. Recently we delivered our two millionth item of personal protective equipment (PPE) to the frontline. Scrubs, gowns, visors, gloves and goggles have now become part of our everyday workwear. The protection and safety of our staff and patients is one of our main priorities and there’s a great deal you can do to help support us. As winter approaches and the nights get longer, we’ll be spending more time indoors. This will increase the risk of coronavirus spreading. Washing your hands with soap and water, or using hand sanitiser, regularly throughout the day will reduce the risk of catching or passing it on. Wearing a face covering over your nose and mouth reduces the spread of droplets carrying the virus. This means if you have it, you’re less likely to pass it on to others. Spreading the virus through droplets is most likely to happen when you are less than 2 metres apart. So when you are with people not from your household, you must keep at least 2 metres apart. This winter, please remember… Wash your hands, cover your face, make space. These are the three most effective ways we can all control the spread of coronavirus. Back in March, when the countrywide lockdown happened, our staff working in the Integrated Community Discharge Team found themselves at the heart of the health and social care response to free up much needed beds in our busy hospitals. Safely discharging patients back into the community (or their own home) was instrumental in allowing colleagues in our hospitals to focus on the care of their critical and very poorly patients. Our Integrated Community Equipment Stores, which provides essential aids and adaptations to some of the most vulnerable in our communities ramped up operations and provided many with the means to live in their own homes, nursing and residential homes. District nursing continued to deliver round the clock care in patients homes, nursing and residential homes. This was strengthened by the skills and knowledge of redeployed colleagues. Podiatrists, health visitors, specialist nurses, school nurses, wellbeing staff and administrators have all contributed and continue to do so across Halton and Warrington to provide essential care to some extremely poorly patients. We have been overwhelmed by the public’s kindness, understanding and generosity during these very challenging months. Our staff have been clapped in the streets, people have made scrubs and visors. Multi-national companies have delivered drinks, hand creams, chocolates and local businesses have donated breakfasts and lunches. In August we celebrated with Nursing Associate Chloe Sutton (pictured) who was named one of five Merseyside Women of the Year. Chloe, who works in Halton, was praised for her compassion and generosity. During the lockdown months it was not unusual to see Chloe taking