Nurse reflects on Covid struggles in Liverpool

A nurse from the Royal Liverpool Hospital, Louise Lightfoot, recalls the difficult times faced during the Covid pandemic. Back in October 2020, Liverpool was experiencing a surge in Covid cases and became the first city in England to enter strict lockdown measures. Hospitals were overwhelmed, and critical care staff urged the public to stay home to avoid further strain on healthcare. Looking back, Louise reflects on the intense work environment. She remembers the fear and uncertainty that came with treating patients in critical care. "It was a very scary time," she said. Despite the stress, nurses united and worked tirelessly to care for patients. Many staff members developed post-traumatic stress disorder after the pandemic, while others chose to leave the nursing profession altogether. Louise mentioned that the pressure was tough to handle, especially since many patients could not have their loved ones by their side. Louise now works as a staff trainer in the same hospital. She uses her experiences from the pandemic in her training sessions. However, she notes that staff prefer not to discuss those times much, as they want to move forward. The Royal Liverpool Hospital moved to a new building in 2022, which has helped staff leave the past behind. Despite moving on, some changes, like stricter infection control measures, remain in place. Louise hopes that society will never face a crisis like Covid again but acknowledges that it is a possibility.