Physio makes a swap to nursing
A physiotherapy assistant who volunteered to help out on the Covid frontline is now training to be a nurse after being inspired by the staff she worked alongside.
In March 2020, Lauran Binks was one of the 200 staff members at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust who were redeployed to different roles during the fight against Covid-19.
Before the outbreak, the 33-year-old was working as a physiotherapy assistant at Sunderland Children’s Centre, but at the start of the first wave, she was redeployed to the Acute Stroke Unit to support in the safe care of patients who were admitted after having a stroke.
Lauran said: “I really wanted to help wherever I could, so I volunteered for redeployment while services at the children’s centre were temporarily postponed due to the pandemic.
“Working on E58 has been amazing. It’s been challenging and there hasn’t been a single day on this ward that has been easy. That being said, every single member of staff has smiled and gone above and beyond for our patients and their families. They really are an inspirational team demonstratingtruecareandcompassion."
A year on, Lauran has decided to make the move permanent and is now working as a health care assistant at Sunderland Royal Hospital.
She also plans to complete her training to become a registered nurse.
"During my redeployment working on the ward, seeing staff work and talking to them about their roles really made me believe in myself and made me consider changing careers even more,” she said.
Melanie Johnson, Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals, said: “Throughout this pandemic many of our staff have found themselves in different areas and roles, supporting the Trust in our response to Covid-19.
"These staff were sent where they were most needed to support their colleagues and to plug any staffing gaps across our organisation.
“Many staff, like Lauran, were able to enhance their skills even further and it’s fantastic to see that she is now taking a nursing career path.
“It has been an incredibly challenging year and I’d like to thank everyone for their incredible versatility, flexibility and their willingness to help wherever needed.”