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If I see one more journalist complaining that they are not getting access to hospitals... no you cannot all come and see for yourselves, if one or two people from your organisation have been given access to a hospital that means you’ve had access.
Bringing journalists in is important and we are doing our best to be honest and transparent and allow independent documentation but filming can also be disruptive and intense (despite everyone’s best intentions).
It is disrespectful to our staff to keep asking them to perform for the cameras when their day is already difficult enough. It is also very challenging to obtain patient or next of kin consent at the best of times, let alone in these circumstances.
If there are people out there who still don’t believe the utter devastation that the pandemic has wrought on this country, it’s because they just don’t want to, and more quotes and pictures aren’t going to persuade them.
An idea of the media output of one hospital trust during the pandemic... This list does not take into account the 100s of requests to clarify misinfo which frustratingly took up so much of our time, when all we wanted was to produce clear, succinct info for staff + patients.
It is not an exhaustive list and I will keep adding to it as I remember or (more likely) I am reminded. Neither does it cover the heroic efforts of our internal comms colleagues to update the intranet with clear information and guidance for staff...
...and the support we had from our web/digital colleagues, who incidentally were also trying to redesign and relaunch our website at the same time. We also got invaluable help from our colleagues in @uclnews @uclhresearch teams / extremely grateful. @hkillworth @matthewchorley
The whole team: @rlmaybank @CassieZac @ZoeWd @MichaelaOnHols @juliaelmer @gerriecoertzen @reenamandora @KirstyHough2 @southendgal1 @CatN101
@coombs_sam @CassieZac @MichaelaOnHols @elmer_julia @wazzygib Only 2 of us work with the media on a regular basis but they all stepped up.
@coombs_sam @CassieZac @MichaelaOnHols @elmer_julia @wazzygib Only 2 of us work with the media on a regular basis but they all stepped up.
February-March
We spent three weeks shedding as many ongoing projects as possible and setting up new ways of working to concentrate on running an efficient press desk, while trying to make sense of the emerging information and guidance.
We spent three weeks shedding as many ongoing projects as possible and setting up new ways of working to concentrate on running an efficient press desk, while trying to make sense of the emerging information and guidance.
We started with wall to wall coverage of the extraordinary research efforts to develop a CPAP machine to treat patients https://www.uclh.nhs.uk/news/ucl-uclh-and-formula-one-develop-life-saving-breathing-aids-nhs
I quite liked this piece: https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-inside-story-of-how-mercedes-f1-and-academics-fast-tracked-life-saving-breathing-aid-136028
By the end of March we decided to take the plunge and allow the first TV cameras on an intensive care ward. For a detailed explanation of what it took to do that, please read the essay written by my colleague @CassieZac here: https://www.futureproofingcomms.co.uk/thelatest/fp5-chapter04
April
First broadcast from an intensive care ward in England on BBC News by @BBCFergusWalsh
6 April: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/health-52190961 https://twitter.com/BBCFergusWalsh/status/1247215011837227010?s=20
First broadcast from an intensive care ward in England on BBC News by @BBCFergusWalsh
6 April: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/health-52190961 https://twitter.com/BBCFergusWalsh/status/1247215011837227010?s=20
We also took some time to thank everyone for the support, we were overwhelmed with offers of help and donations and our fundraising and staff experience teams worked tirelessly to process these offers.
23 April: https://www.uclh.nhs.uk/news/weareyournhs-our-opportunity-say-thank-you
23 April: https://www.uclh.nhs.uk/news/weareyournhs-our-opportunity-say-thank-you
The Observer covered the impact of that first BBC News report (which was later also shortlisted for @pressgazette
British Journalism Awards 2020)
19 April: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/apr/19/bbcs-covid-19-reporters-i-wanted-to-show-the-reality-but-was-deeply-troubled-by-what-i-saw
British Journalism Awards 2020)
19 April: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/apr/19/bbcs-covid-19-reporters-i-wanted-to-show-the-reality-but-was-deeply-troubled-by-what-i-saw
Complete with patient accounts
12 May:
12 May:
Meanwhile we worked with a freelance writer @EdwardDocx to profile one of our intensive care consultants Jim Down in a really powerful and detailed piece of writing which made the cover of the New Statesman
27 May: https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/health/2020/05/peak
27 May: https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/health/2020/05/peak
June
In June we tried to encourage cancer patients to come back to the hospital for treatment covered by @SkyNewsThomas with @CatN101
9 June: https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-surgeons-wear-full-ppe-in-six-hour-cancer-operations-during-pandemic-12003645
In June we tried to encourage cancer patients to come back to the hospital for treatment covered by @SkyNewsThomas with @CatN101
9 June: https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-surgeons-wear-full-ppe-in-six-hour-cancer-operations-during-pandemic-12003645
July
In July we profiled some our frontline staff in a photo essay by @tompilston on the Tortoise website
8 July: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/2020/07/08/200708-uclh-photo-essay/
In July we profiled some our frontline staff in a photo essay by @tompilston on the Tortoise website
8 July: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/2020/07/08/200708-uclh-photo-essay/
The Economist’s 1843 magazine also published its long read by @simonakam, which involved regular phone calls with consultant Alice Carter @katoogi and matron Elaine Thorpe @fernie0207 starting in April
26 July: Long read in The Economist’s 1843 Magazine https://www.economist.com/1843/2020/07/26/the-inside-story-of-britains-fight-against-covid-19
26 July: Long read in The Economist’s 1843 Magazine https://www.economist.com/1843/2020/07/26/the-inside-story-of-britains-fight-against-covid-19
August
August saw the broadcast of our documentary presented by brothers @DoctorChrisVT and @xandvt, something my colleague @MichaelaOnHols had been working on since March.
5 August: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000ljnb
August saw the broadcast of our documentary presented by brothers @DoctorChrisVT and @xandvt, something my colleague @MichaelaOnHols had been working on since March.
5 August: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000ljnb
September
Another plea in September to get cancer patients in for treatment covered by @vsmacdonald and my colleague @CatN101
23 September: https://www.channel4.com/news/uk-hospitals-race-to-clear-backlog-as-coronavirus-cases-rise
Another plea in September to get cancer patients in for treatment covered by @vsmacdonald and my colleague @CatN101
23 September: https://www.channel4.com/news/uk-hospitals-race-to-clear-backlog-as-coronavirus-cases-rise
October
In October we focused on the help we could offer patients with ‘long Covid’ covered by most national media. @MacarthurAnna @emerd
7 October: https://www.england.nhs.uk/2020/10/nhs-to-offer-long-covid-help/
In October we focused on the help we could offer patients with ‘long Covid’ covered by most national media. @MacarthurAnna @emerd
7 October: https://www.england.nhs.uk/2020/10/nhs-to-offer-long-covid-help/
Feature by @RossLydall in the @standardnews on long Covid
19 October: https://www.standard.co.uk/news/health/long-covid-curse-1-000-london-struck-down-a4572101.html
19 October: https://www.standard.co.uk/news/health/long-covid-curse-1-000-london-struck-down-a4572101.html
Health secretary Matt Hancock visits UCLH to see the work of long Covid Clinic (ask me what it takes to set up a VIP visit, I dare you)
21 October: https://www.uclh.nhs.uk/news/health-secretary-matt-hancock-visits-university-college-hospital
21 October: https://www.uclh.nhs.uk/news/health-secretary-matt-hancock-visits-university-college-hospital
December
We launch a new long Covid clinic at the NHNN for people with neurological symptoms. More by @RossLydall
18 December: https://www.standard.co.uk/news/health/long-covid-brain-fog-national-hospital-bloomsbury-b356127.html
We launch a new long Covid clinic at the NHNN for people with neurological symptoms. More by @RossLydall
18 December: https://www.standard.co.uk/news/health/long-covid-brain-fog-national-hospital-bloomsbury-b356127.html
Could monoclonal antibodies help in the fight against Covid-19? News broken by @denis_campbell in The Guardian and followed up by several other media outlets in the UK and abroad.
25 and 26 December: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/25/uk-scientists-trial-drug-to-prevent-coronavirus-infection-leading-to-disease
25 and 26 December: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/25/uk-scientists-trial-drug-to-prevent-coronavirus-infection-leading-to-disease
The BBC @BBCHughPym and the Guardian @sarahboseley report on our attempts to keep up with the increase in Covid-19 patients needing hospital treatment
31 December and 1 January : https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/31/london-hospital-uclh-warns-on-track-become-covid-only
31 December and 1 January : https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/31/london-hospital-uclh-warns-on-track-become-covid-only
I knew I’d forget some because... there was so much!
This, by @davidjamessmit5 and @attenboroughjon, should be required reading. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/i-had-horrible-panic-attacks-nhs-critical-care-workers-on-the-emotional-toll-of-covid-19-pfb659l7g
This, by @davidjamessmit5 and @attenboroughjon, should be required reading. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/i-had-horrible-panic-attacks-nhs-critical-care-workers-on-the-emotional-toll-of-covid-19-pfb659l7g
And my plan for January is to try and do something more about this patient group with @AndrewsNose
Article by @dcwriter89 https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/dec/05/anosmia-how-covid-brought-loss-of-smell-centre-stage
Article by @dcwriter89 https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/dec/05/anosmia-how-covid-brought-loss-of-smell-centre-stage
I missed another story in July. It was the first report of neurological symptoms in Covid-19 patients. BBC again.
