9 ‘I put that under my work blanket’ – children’s hospital staff experiences of redeployment during the COVID-19 pandemic

• Published in: Archives of disease in childhood 2023-02, Vol.108 (Suppl 1), p.A3-A4
• Main Authors: Gibson, Faith, Aldiss, Susie, Wray, Jo, Vindrola-Padros, Cecilia, Kelly, Paula
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adults; Children; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Hospitals; Intensive care; Intensive care units; Interviews; Medical personnel; Oral presentations; Pandemics; Patients; Pediatrics; Semi Structured Interviews; Training
• ISSN: 0003-9888; 1468-2044
• DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2023-gosh.9

BackgroundIn March 2020 and January 2021 Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) staff were redeployed to hospitals in North Central London, to support the care of adult Covid positive in-patients and paediatric services. In addition to providing care for children usually referred to GOSH, the hospital prepared for children who required hospital care who would usually have been admitted to other Paediatric Intensive Care Units across London – units repurposed to provide adult intensive care; and children who would normally receive their care in local hospital paediatric services, many of which were closed as staff were treating adults. Clinical skills training was offered to up-skill non-ward-based staff and provide an update on current techniques utilised in the care of general paediatric patients.MethodsWithin a wider study to understand healthcare workers’ perceptions of care delivery in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, GOSH staff were invited to take part in a single semi-structured interview by telephone. In our sampling strategy, we purposively recruited staff with experience of redeployment. We employed qualitative rapid appraisal design, RREAL Rapid Assessment Procedures (RAP) for early sharing, interpretation and analysis of data, audio recording and transcription of interviews and framework analysis.ResultsRecruitment and interviews took place between March and November 2021. Thirty-six GOSH staff were recruited, 18 (50%) participants had been redeployed outside the hospital and 4 (11%) within the hospital. We identified six themes which illustrated staff experiences of redeployment. These included (i) drivers and agency; (ii) preparation for redeployment; (iii) working reality; (iv) impact on family life; (v) professional disruption and (vi) personal challenges.ConclusionRedeployment was reported as both challenging and rewarding. More timely confirmation and bespoke training recognising individual skill sets was recommended. Support structures were available with the majority preferring those developed with close colleagues.