Hartlepool Health Heroes - hospital chief praises resilience of each and every staff member helping to fight pandemic

Julie Gillon of North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust said every staff member is a key worker and each one is contributing to the unprecedented situation.

Ms Gillon spoke about how the Trust, which runs Hartlepool and North Tees hospitals, is responding locally to the global crisis as the Mail salutes health and other key workers in our #HealthHeroes campaign.

She said: “Over the course of the last few weeks, our staff, as expected, have shown why they are employees of the NHS.

“We are facing unprecedented times as a health care service, and the resilience that we have to draw on now is heightened.

“We are working in new ways, sometimes with old faces (a big welcome back to our colleagues who have retired and returned to help us) but these changes present us with new opportunities for the future.

“Whilst we work day-to-day to combat the virus, and care for our patients, we are relying on the innovation that has historically been such an important part of our success to date in responding to the pandemic.

“This will start to shape the health care model of the future, I am sure.”

Ms Gillon said colleagues have been ‘absolutely overwhelmed’ by people’s support and generosity from donations to the kind words in letters, cards and emails.

One card from a 77-year-old lady said ‘For all the hard work that each one of you are doing, it’s much appreciated. Take care, and love each other’.

Ms Gillon added: “These are wise words – ‘love each other’. It is the strength we will draw from one another over this time that will help us navigate the situation.

“Being a Chief Executive of a health care provider always presents different challenges. But being Chief Executive of North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, I know our patients are in the best possible hands.

“This confidence in colleagues applies to all roles within the organisation.

“I want to say thank you, and keep going. I am so very proud.”

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