Walsall Healthcare’s Respiratory Team has worked with speed to open a new Non Invasive Ventilation (NIV) Unit for Covid-19 patients at Walsall Manor Hospital to ease the pressure within its Critical Care Unit.

Rani Virk, Divisional Director of Nursing, Division of Medicine & Long Term Conditions at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, paid tribute to staff from Estates, EBME (Electrical and BioMedical Engineering), Microbiology, IT and Infection Prevention and Control who had risen swiftly to the challenge to get the unit up and running on Ward 17 from today, Wednesday 13 January.

“The service will work closely with Critical Care to provide level 2 care to Covid positive patients who require airway support and more advanced respiratory care,“ she explained. “This will help to ease some of the pressure within our Critical Care Unit where we are now treating higher numbers of patients than in the first wave of the pandemic last April.

“Staff have been so supportive and responsive and we want to thank everyone concerned. This includes Karine Anderson, Education Sister for the Division of Medicine, who has worked to provide competency based training and multiple educational resources to support the opening, the Respiratory Consultant Team, led by Dr Kutaeba Ibrahim, who will provide leadership for the area with support from Critical Care and Outreach Services and Matron Anna Harding (Respiratory and Cardiology Matron), a Critical Care nurse by background who will safely implement the service and support the respiratory nursing team moving forwards.

“Despite current healthcare pressures this is an exciting opportunity for the Respiratory Team and is further evidence of a developing Specialty at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust.  The nursing team will develop enhanced skills and patients will be cared for in the right environment – on a dedicated NIV unit with specialist respiratory input. The unit will be a real asset to patient care, both now and in the future, realising our long term vision to keep the unit for patients who needs non-invasive ventilation outside of the Critical Care Unit.”