Hear from Claire on all things health and social care

Welcome to my new monthly blog series. This month, I want to share my personal experience from the pandemic - a journey that’s been both challenging to write and deeply reflective. 

No matter what your experience, every voice deserves to be heard, and together, these stories have the power to shape a better future. As a nurse, I’ve always embraced the challenges of my profession. I chose this path because I wanted to make a difference, especially after losing my dad to a brain tumour. But when the pandemic hit, even I was unprepared for how it would change everything. 

Days blurred into nights, punctuated by moments of intense heartbreak, resilience, and profound humanity. Amid the chaos, nursing staff and patients became family. There was a strong sense of community among nursing staff, doctors, and staff – a shared bond formed from going through the unimaginable together. Despite the constant struggle, there was strength and unity. Nursing staff were, and still are, the backbone of our healthcare system, bringing expertise and empathy to the fore when people needed it most.  

"I was diagnosed with a colloid cyst of the third ventricle – a benign brain tumour. The need to share our stories has never been more urgent."

Facing my own health crisis

Then, in May 2020, while we were still battling the pandemic, I faced my own health crisis. I woke up one morning with a terrible headache, so intense that I found myself banging on the floor to get my mum’s attention. She called an ambulance, and before I knew it, I was in A&E. I’ll never forget the moment the doctor removed her gloves, reached out and held my hand to break the news – there was something on my scan. She didn’t know whether it was a brain tumour, or a bleed – but it was one of them. I was diagnosed with a colloid cyst of the third ventricle – a benign brain tumour. That gesture, from the doctor, something so small and so compassionate, made me realise just how important, those human connections are.
 
From the nurse working so hard - with so many patients to care for - who still found the energy to bake homemade brownies for her patients and lift their spirits, to the neurosurgeons who dedicated over nine hours in surgery, my experience cemented my pride in my profession and deepened my admiration for those I work alongside.

Reflection and admiration

My experience serves as a powerful reminder of what nursing staff and other healthcare professionals faced during the pandemic. Not only were they caring for the huge numbers of people suffering from COVID, but there were still many people like me who needed urgent and expert treatment for other conditions.

On top of that, nursing staff were dealing with daily life in the pandemic and managing everything else that we all faced. They too had families to support, children who were unable to attend school, loved ones who were shielding, and I was not alone in facing my own health issues during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is so important that all these experiences are captured, and heard by the Inquiry. That is why I believe in the Every Story Matters campaign, and why I want to encourage others to share their stories too. The UK COVID-19 Inquiry’s current phase examines how the pandemic affected children and young people. As the Inquiry expands to examine societal impacts, the focus will include key workers, vulnerable populations, and those who faced mental health challenges or bereavement. The need to share our stories has never been more urgent. 

Every story matters

Through Every Story Matters, people like you and me have a chance to speak up. Whether you’re a healthcare worker, a parent, a young person, or someone who lost someone close, your story is important. It’s a piece of our collective memory, and sharing it ensures our experiences aren’t forgotten or overlooked. 

The stories we share will shape the Inquiry’s findings, helping to inform recommendations and prepare us for the future. But sharing is more than just documentation - it’s about validation and healing too. I also shared my story through the Royal College of Nursing’s SenseMaker platform, knowing it could contribute to meaningful change in how we support healthcare workers.

Do you have a story?

If you have a story, please consider sharing it! No matter how small or personal it feels, your experience is a piece of our shared history. Together, our stories have the power to make a difference, to build empathy, and to drive change. Your stories from the pandemic can be shared with the UK COVID-19 Inquiry by completing a short online form on Every Story Matters. Your stories are also hugely important to RCN through SenseMaker.