LIFE ON AND OFF THE WARD

• Following the SARS pandemic in 2003, research found that healthcare staff experienced significant psychological distress that continued for years after the pandemic.
• The World Health Organisation declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic in March 2020 and major pressure was placed on the healthcare systems in the UK.
• Steps were taken in the UK to support the anticipated surge of admissions to healthcare systems, such as retired staff returning to work, accelerated healthcare student qualifications and redeployment of staff.
• Healthcare staff reported significant emotional distress during this time, however little was known about the experience of stress and resources to manage it under the demands and pressures of a pandemic.

We aim to find out what staff found the most challenging while working during COVID-19, how they coped with working during a pandemic, and what psychological support would be needed.

• We received 90 expressions of interest from staff, 32 staff subsequently agreed to take part
• We are currently still in the process of publishing the results of Life On and Off The Ward and hope to share them soon.

During interviews, staff were asked how they managed their stress during COVID-19 and some interviewees submitted photos of different ways to de-stress with the hopes of helping others. Images shared with the permission of Life On and Off The Ward participants.