Physiotherapists are needed to help patients recover from debilitating physical effects of Covid-19.
An urgent appeal has been made for those trained in the therapy to contact the HSC Workforce Appeal.
One Belfast physio said: “For physiotherapists it’s all about maintaining the chest area and keeping secretions moving. This virus causes really nasty phlegm to gather and it needs to be removed.
“Our actions basically help the patient breathe along with the ventilators to maintain their chest and clear the airways of those secretions.
“In effect our work acts like a cough, so as the ventilator is pushing air out we shake the chest and massage the tummy for the patient and that helps the secretions move.
“It’s labour intensive and feels very personal - we are willing every breath in every patient.
“We celebrate every victory and then we help the patient with the next step which is coming round after being weaned off ventilation.
“Our goal is to know they will walk out of hospital, or at least walk to a wheelchair to get out of here.
“A patient who has been ventilated for any prolonged period of time needs a lot of help to recover.
“Even sitting up unaided is a trial. They are physically weak, often emotionally distressed because it’s hard to come to terms with what they’ve been through, and knowing they have survived but have a long journey of recovery ahead is tough.
“Some of these patients will be ventilated for weeks so the role of the physiotherapist now more than ever is vital rehabilitation."
The DoH is “urgently seeking expressions of interest” from healthcare workers, clinicians and social care workers who are not already working the health and social care system to come forward.
And they are also seeking non-healthcare workers to fill a range of vacancies with paid employment including:
- Porters
- Catering Staff
- Cleaning and Domestic Services Staff
- Laundry Staff, ICT Professionals
- Finance and Payroll
- Call Handlers
- Drivers
- Electricians
- Plumbers
- Joiners
- Warehousing
- Maintenance Staff and more
