It was with great sadness that we learned of the death of Captain Sir Tom Moore during this third lockdown, but what a joy to realise all that he achieved. From a Second World War veteran to an NHS campaigner, he certainly managed to lift morale, galvanise a nation and highlight the outstanding work of the NHS. How proud his family must be and how wonderful to have had such an inspiring man in their lives. We salute everyone who is fundraising to support our great institution.
The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly highlighted the many challenges faced by the NHS, including demand, capacity and funding. The challenge of every government is to carefully balance the public purse while at the same time provide quality public services. The technical capabilities that are available to us and an ageing population present a dilemma: how do we balance care provision with spending? An unprecedented event, such as a pandemic has starkly reminded us that systems can be stretched, but something must give.
My concern for all those NHS staff who have found themselves traumatised by this cannot be understated. Although there is support in the form of wellbeing hubs and psychological help established after the impact of the first COVID-19 wave, the situation this time is drastically different. Staff who remain off sick need to be replaced and everyone needs to have annual leave for some respite and self-care. Reservist lists made up of all allied health professionals are providing much-needed help and support to intensive care teams, although this is a challenge for many. Wellbeing hubs and self-care strategies provide staff with an outlet for reflection and off-loading.
At the time of writing, more than 24 million people have received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccination (Gov.uk, 2021). This shows what can be achieved in a crisis. The reality of vaccine production and distribution has highlighted to many the outstanding support network that the NHS requires. Not only can this be seen in the pharmacy and manufacturing sector, but also in the huge network of warehouse staff, drivers and volunteers who have made this campaign possible.
The longer term effects of COVID-19 will become apparent in the coming months and years
The longer term effects of COVID-19 will become apparent in the coming months and years. The legacy of this disease will be measured in the final death total, as well as how many people remain symptomatic with ‘long COVID’, displaying symptoms such as fatigue, insomnia, ‘brain fog’, chest pain, palpitations, anxiety and rashes, to name a few (NHS website, 2021).
The Association of Stoma Care Nurses UK (ASCN UK) continues to strive towards supporting specialist stoma care nurses despite the pressures around us. Stoma patients continue to need assistance and support and the new guidelines due for publication will be added to the portfolio of clinical advice already available. The Stoma Care Nursing Standards and Audit Tool have been reviewed and the revised edition will be shared on the website this year (www.ascnuk.com).
As I come to the end of my tenure as Chair, I have reflected on the past 6 years and realise what a valuable and privileged position it has been. The importance of championing our specialty to national bodies such as PrescQipp and the British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) cannot be underestimated. The opportunities for networking and sharing are enormous and has been evident in our collaboration with the World Council of Enterostomal Therapists (WCET). We must strive to continue to reach out to nurses, embrace technology that facilitates this and develop evidence-based resources to strengthen our expertise.