WORKING under extreme pressures never experienced before, Dr. Terence McManus has experienced the highs and lows of medical life whilst working in the Covid-19 Ward at the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH).

These have ranged from the tragedy of patients dying due to the virus, to the elation of seeing others recover and leave the SWAH.

The Covid pandemic has put a strain on the health service, and all those working in it, but Dr. McManus – a Consultant Respiratory Physician at the SWAH – has seen the monumental efforts many colleagues have put in to make sure patients received the best possible care, despite such trying circumstances.

Speaking to The Impartial Reporter about life in the Covid Ward, Dr. McManus described the dedicated teamwork from all those on the ward.

“It is an intense working environment, and made stressful and uncomfortable through having to wear PPE for long periods,” explained Dr. McManus.

“The nursing staff have been outstanding in their ability to provide care for large numbers of extremely sick patients.

“Junior medical staff have also performed excellently, stepping up to help care for patients with complex respiratory illnesses.”

To help fight Covid-19, a specialist Covid multidisciplinary team was created, comprising Respiratory Medical, Ward Nursing, Respiratory Physiotherapists, Occupational Health, Speech and Language Therapy, and Pharmacy staff, who all met each morning to discuss all active Covid cases, and to discuss patient management.

Pictures and videos from across the world have shown the physical and mental toll that caring for Covid-stricken patients has taken on healthcare professionals, and it is no different at the SWAH.

Dr. McManus said: “Staff are continuing to work under extreme pressures and are tired – but we continue to provide the best care to our patients.

“My colleagues and I are seeing very sick patients across a wide range of ages on the ward.

“We are seeing people sicker than we would ever have seen before – some on very high levels of oxygen.

“It is physically and mentally exhausting, working at such a high-intensity level across a period of many months.

Challenging

“It has also been challenging, in adapting to and implementing changes in guidelines, which were being introduced on a weekly basis as more was learnt about the virus and its transmission,” he said.

Dr. McManus admitted that the most recent surge was the “most challenging time of my entire career”.

“It was like taking the busiest day from last Winter, and repeating it every day for three months. Even though everyone was working incredibly hard, they were still offering to help others in any way they could.”

To stop the spread of Covid, visits to the Covid Ward were prohibited, and sometimes meant that patients were unable to have family with them as they passed away.

Dr. McManus said that staff on the ward became an “extended family” to patients, while they also provided emotional support that families would normally provide during visits.

It is a difficult experience, seeing someone pass away even when they have been receiving the best possible treatment, admitted Dr. McManus.

However, there is also elation in the ward when somebody recovers, which gives staff a huge boost.

“Something which struck me is how grateful all the patients I dealt with were for the treatment they received – it is very humbling,” added Dr. McManus.

According to the Department of Health’s daily Covid update, the numbers of positive cases, hospital admissions and deaths are falling.

Wednesday’s daily update reported no Covid patients in the SWAH’s ICU, while there were 16 Covid in-patients in the hospital.

Dr. McManus hopes that if thing continue to improve, life will return to some sort of normality soon.

“Patient numbers admitted to hospital have improved significantly. We are also seeing the effect of vaccinations – I would encourage all who are offered the vaccination to avail of it.

“This has been a very difficult year for everyone in the community, but I do see things are improving, and I hope we can return to some degree of normality in the near future,” he said.

As well as the vaccination programme, Dr. McManus still knows the public have a vital role to play in keep the virus at bay.

He urged: “Please follow the public health messaging – reduce your social contacts, socially distance, wear a face covering and wash your hands regularly.

“We need the public to help us, in order for us to have the resources and staffing available to help their loved ones in need of treatment and care.

“Everyone has a role to play. If we all continue to follow public health advice, the sooner we can return to normality.”

Dr. McManus was full of praise for hospital staff across the Western Trust, and the public who have supported the hospital through donations and rallied around each other.

“Without this team effort, we could not have managed this pandemic in the way we have.

“The pandemic has also allowed for the introduction of changes and improvements as to how we deliver medical services, which will result in more efficient healthcare in the future,” he concluded.