An Orthotist’s account of life on the ‘Covid-19 Frontline’

A major part of the normal work an Orthotist does is the daily ward round, fitting patients with an array of orthotic devices to manage their condition. Despite the presence of Covid-19 this work has to go on and many Orthotists have continued to provide this service at the frontline when required.

Orthotics is a small part of the healthcare industry in the UK, but a close network in which we all know each other to one degree or another. Over the years many of these clinicians have become my friends and so during these challenging times I wanted to stay in touch and see how they were coping. Across numerous telephone and email conversations they have recounted their current work experiences, many of which have left me completely humbled by the contribution they are making in these most testing of circumstances.

I felt it was important to share some of these accounts and so I have tried to encapsulate them through the experience of one particular Orthotist.

At the outset of this pandemic he recounted how everyone had seen the TV reports of Coronavirus approaching, in particular from Italy where there were numerous scenes of hospitals being completely overwhelmed. At this time, his Trust entered the planning stage [pre-Nightingale] with staff being repurposed and retrained, whilst certain departments were taken over as Covid-19 wards. This is when he says the fear of the unknown began to really set in. Stories reporting the lack of PPE etc., only exacerbated this sense of fear.

He describes his journey (like many others) as an emotional rollercoaster of feelings, ranging from being nervous to frightened and at times completely overwhelmed.  As he says, these are shared thoughts and the same as every other healthcare professional working with Covid-19 patients experiences. Ultimately, it’s how well you can cope and deal with these feelings that gets you through. Modestly he doesn’t profess to be working 24/7 on the front line, but is still on-site each day and ready to deal with the specific needs of individual patients at the various stages of their disease.

His Trust is a Major Trauma Centre and prior to Covid-19 he would routinely visit Critical Care to deal with complex multi trauma patients. Since Covid-19 arrived, it has been the volume of patients that he has been asked to see that has significantly changed. Working life has gone from perhaps seeing one Critical Care patient a day, to entering units full to capacity with patients suffering from Covid-19. Typically, this work now involves supporting patients who are long stay/ventilated and with a range of issues, but often a loss of range of movement. 

This reality is what presents the greatest mental battle. Having to prepare yourself to confront a whole Critical Care area, full of Covid-19 patients. This feeling is often overwhelming and as such more exhausting than the pure physical effort of the work involved. Often completely drained by the end of the day, but unable to sleep and recover for the next, because of what he has seen and witnessed. He considers himself lucky to have a good support network both inside and outside of the profession, but fears for those who don’t. Specifically, he commented that even though you know that support exists, it’s not always there at 2.00 am in the morning when you need it the most. 

He reports that the PPE within his Trust has not been an issue, but for him it was the experience of the sheer volume of it he was going through. Continually needing to change with each different area or ward visited, not to mention the time it takes to doff and don! Hearing of hospitals and care homes that had little so little of this protection left him almost feeling guilty.

As the virus comes under control, there is a certain pressure to resume some kind of a ‘new normal’ service and so the planning to restart clinics whilst Covid-19 is still present. This will present another range of challenges, whilst there will be huge emphasis on rehabilitation for patients who have come through this and require ongoing complex Orthotic support.

These unprecedented times will be tough for all in our industry, working or furloughed. Reach out to colleagues and co-workers, give them a call, send them a message or drop them a line. Be kind.