NHS Lanarkshire staff defied the lockdown to come together in song earlier this week and bring hope and joy to locals.
Members of the health board’s choir sang ‘Lean on Me’ by the legendary Bill Withers, who sadly passed away last week.
But there was no rule breaking by the health heroes, who used modern technology to come together in song – and they even posted their efforts online for all to see.
Performed by 29 members of staff, the song was their dedication to family, friends, colleagues and patients.
The performance also includes one member of staff who translates the song into BSL while singing the iconic words.
Gillian Evans, nurse and improvement advisor, said: “The choir was initially set up to improve health and wellbeing.
“Singing is a great form of therapy. It lifts your spirits and enables your problems to melt away.
“To comply with social distancing, and due to pressures on staff, the choir aren’t able to meet up as a group to sing. However, recording this song has kept us together in difficult times.
“The song chosen is extremely appropriate for how Lanarkshire and the world is feeling at the moment.
“We hope our song will feel uplifting to everyone who listens, during this challenge that the NHS is currently facing.”
Members of the choir were asked to record themselves singing on their mobile phones, before sending their footage to musical director Rebecca Keay, who collated the individual voices into one seamless performance.
Rebecca said: “In this current climate it was important to try to keep our choir singing.
“Having a common purpose and goal in our song has given us this focus of staying together.
“Through social media, we’ve worked remotely, but always together and supporting each other. As frontline workers, the lyrics mean a lot to the choir, touching many important aspects of their role in saving lives.”
The video is available on NHS Lanarkshire’s facebook and website.
It is also available on youtube at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9HrCjHGqXI
