The pandemic changed everything

In the beginning, before we understood the virus, before vaccines, and before we had enough PPE to protect everyone, we were the few who came into London and into work every day. It was quiet, and it was scary. Would we get it and die? We hadn’t lived through a pandemic before. It was supposed to be just a three-week lockdown, but it just kept going, and it was hard to understand what was going on. It changed the way we worked, the way we interacted, everything. Overnight. Heather Brown

It was nice to come to work instead of being stuck in my home during lockdown – going to the psychiatric ward was a respite - ironically, it was very good for MY mental health!

Josh Lee

The day after we were sent home I came in to clear out the fridge, feed the fish and water the plants, and I did that each day to make sure everyone came back to a nice place. It was so quiet I could hear the sheep bleating across the road (yes there are still sheep there).

Owen Reilly

At the beginning of the pandemic it was like being a hero. One day, 700 easter eggs were delivered on our doorstep.

Matthew Willoughby

We had amazing support from the community. Several times we had pizzas delivered with thank you notes! We also had fruit, cakes, and ten boxes from Waitrose with socks, hand lotions and face creams for the rashes people would get under the masks.

Ursula Lobo

My whole street came out for the Thursday night clap for the NHS. We knew a clap and banging pots and pans wouldn’t change anything, but it was nice people came out to show their support, and it was a treat to chat with the neighbours back then when we were all locked in our houses for weeks.

Nikita Asokar

We are the crisis treatment team and we would go in full PPE to see clients. This meant gowns, gloves, face shields. The moment you put it on you wanted to take it off, it was hot and uncomfortable. When we could take it off it went into orange clinical waste sacks in the boot, and then I would wipe down inside the car.

Henry Galliford

I was the first to get Covid in Tolworth, at the beginning of the pandemic. They came and sprayed disinfectant all over reception. We were very scared.

Ursula Lobo

We went two years without getting covid – then we all got it!

Mimi Faugoo

I remember it was very hectic. We had to cancel all the face-to-face appointments and introduce virtual Attend Anywhere appointments, after lots of IT support! Some patients loved it, but others couldn’t or wouldn’t use it. Then staff would get Covid and we’d have to rejig the caseloads again.

Maureen Boothe

When the pandemic struck, social distancing had to be implemented – a complex and challenging ask in a very old building, the Wilson Hospital in Mitcham, which houses several community teams. It also became a vaccination centre. Our hats are off to Denise Dixon, our office manager who met this herculean task with aplomb!

Ian Jordan

I want to say a massive thank you to everyone. What has impressed us is how unbelievably dedicated, tactile, and loving the staff that we’ve come across are here. Thank you so much for letting us into your world and your space.

Stacey Dooley, BBC documentary Filmmaker After filming the second series of On The Psych Ward for BBC

What I remember is how we had meetings and more meetings upon meetings about Covid. It was extremely difficult – people were off sick, staff numbers were down, wards had Covid outbreaks. Teams were short staffed, and staff were pulled from one ward to cover another ward. It was two years of stress, and the implications on our mental health are still unfolding. Melissa Heath