From the DESSC Frontline

Regardless of whether there is a global pandemic, doctors and nurses are responsible for the holistic care of all types of patients. During the past twelve months, the DESSC medical team have undertaken the extraordinary role of supporting us with both COVID and day-to-day issues, whilst ensuring that both the School and College remain safe spaces to work and learn and for this, we cannot thank them enough. Despite their busy schedules, they found time to speak to us about their changing role.

Briefly describe your career before working at DESSC.

Jackie: I previously worked for the NHS in the UK, specialising in ICU and pain management. Jill: After finishing my degree in Nursing, I completed my post graduate course in Midwifery and Community Nursing. I ran my own practice for a while, hosting antenatal classes and well-baby clinics, including infant developmental stimulation classes for parents. Françoise: I always wanted to become a doctor, just like my grandfather. I studied to become a Family Medicine GP in the Netherlands, where I worked for a few years before coming here to Dubai. Susan: In the UK I worked as a Junior Sister in the emergency and trauma operating theatre of a busy childrens hospital. Perly: I came to the UAE in 2006 and was offered my first job in a Radiology Centre in Sharjah where I spent seven years working as a Radiology Nurse before becoming an OPD / Charge Nurse. Anna: I qualified as a Nurse in 1998 with a First Class Honor’s degree in Critical Care Nursing, specialising in Intensive Care Nursing.

What are the most rewarding parts of your role here?

Françoise: Being part of a very professional medical team, seeing children open up and feel safe with us and later wave at me when I pass by the play area. Receiving thank you notes from parents when I am just doing my job. Anna: The most rewarding part of my role is being able to work with families to enable a positive change. This might be with education around a child’s medical condition or supportive encouragement to make healthy lifestyle choices. Sometimes just chatting through a problem can be all it takes to see things differently. I’m a big believer in the phrase, ‘it takes a village to raise a child’. At DESS we are a village, looking out for each other.

Where do you see your biggest challenges?

Susan: Keeping everyone safe and healthy in school is a big challenge during a pandemic. With everchanging guidelines we need to make sure that we are always up to date and following the correct procedures. Anna: Unfortunately, every parent now dreads a phone call from the school clinic! Somedays I feel more

like a security guard policing who can and who can’t come to school because of the very strict COVID-19 restrictions that all schools have to comply with. I do find it difficult that outside of the school environment lots of the restrictions seem to have relaxed but in school we still have to comply with very strict protocols. This can be quite confusing for children. We do have a huge amount of admin work to do relating to the reporting of COVID-19 cases and tracing close contacts.

In what way has your role changed because of the pandemic?

Jackie: With fewer students onsite and students encouraged not to attend if unwell, the clinic has been quieter at times. We are also involved in fewer sports and after school activities due to the current restrictions, but hopefully that will change when it’s safe to start up again. We have had a huge increase in paperwork, however, which has kept us very busy! Perly: Assessing and treating students has become more challenging, especially as we must keep distanced as much as possible. Anna: Part of my role at DESSC is Health Education. I really enjoyed visiting the children in class to help them learn about a healthy diet, how to look after our teeth and how to take care of ourselves when we are unwell. We had great puppets that we could borrow from a local dentist so that the children could practice and gain some hands on experience in caring for their teeth. I’m really looking forward to being able to visit the children in person in their classrooms again soon.

What positives have you taken from the past 18 months?

Jill: We can make it through as long as work together. Susan: The resilience of our DESS community and the way we’ve all supported each other during the pandemic has been amazing. It has not been easy for anyone to adapt to the changes over the last 18 months, but I feel that here at DESSC, we’ve done an amazing job this academic year. I would like to see us continue to support and care about each other, as we have always done.

What would be your one wish for DESSC in the future?

Jill: To see our students filling all of the sports fields! Françoise: To be the healthiest and happiest school in Dubai! Perly: To remove the masks and see the bright faces of the staff and students. Anna: I can’t wait for the day that we can safely welcome all of the children back to DESS without their masks. I want to see the happy, smiling faces of your beautiful children!