Michele Elliot is a nurse at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust (BHRUT)
Michele Elliot, who works at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust (BHRUT), was instrumental in caring for seriously ill patients throughout lockdown.
Her work included ensuring there were enough critical care beds, equipment and staff to care for those in need.
The nurse also worked through the London Bridge Terror Attack in 2017, the Grenfell fire and volunteered in Gaza and Nepal.
Michele, who’s the divisional director of nursing for emergency care and anaesthetics said: “Before Covid-19 hit there was a lot of anxiety as we knew it was coming but didn’t know exactly how it would impact us. It took a lot of planning and was quite difficult.
“So many people worked so hard, and I couldn’t have done it without everyone else so I feel this is for all of us.
“I’ve worked during major incidents before and they usually last between 24 to 72 hours, so the adrenaline gets you through. Covid was much harder as it’s been over a long period.
“It has brought us together as we all have something in common. It’s been stressful for everyone in different ways.”
Michele’s nursing career began at 28, after returning from seven years living in the US with her daughter, and feeling like she needed to get a ‘grown-up job’.
Her mum was a healthcare assistant (HCA) so Michele spent her childhood surrounded by healthcare workers, however, as she didn’t do well at school she didn’t think nursing was the career for her.
Luckily, she passed the test to start her training: “I’d been working in a care home as a HCA, to check I could cope with the less glamorous aspects of nursing.
“I loved it. I really enjoy being around people and caring for them. When people need care, it’s an important time in their lives and I think it’s a privilege to be part of that.”
The mum of 2 trained with BHRUT and returned two years ago after working in hospitals including the Royal London and St Mary’s.
During her career, she treated patients from the London Bridge terror attack in 2017.
She appeared on the Hospital TV series, as the injured terrorist was brought in for treatment.
Michele was also on shift when the Grenfell Tower fire took place.
Her other experiences include volunteering in Gaza in 2014, post-ceasefire, to care for those in need.
In 2015, she then went to Nepal following an earthquake which killed thousands and injured thousands more.
She added: “I enjoy helping in these circumstance and find that, like during major incidents, the adrenaline gets you through.
“I was working on a spinal injury rehab unit in Nepal and we had a little girl who had broken her back.
“One day I went out and got some nail varnish so I could polish her nails to cheer her up, before I knew it, the entire ward had pink nails!
“What I really enjoyed while volunteering was giving hands-on care again, as a change from managing teams in my usual role.
“I’ve been extremely lucky with the opportunities I’ve had in my career.”
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Tags: Havering, Redbridge, Rainham, Barking, BHRUT
