Bassetlaw hospital worker recognised for Covid-19 documentary photos

Operating department practitioner Jules Hunter spent ten weeks photographing colleagues on the ward as it was flooded with Cov-19 admissions earlier this year.

Jules, 65, told how she was compelled to chronicle the extraordinary time with her camera as she noted ‘each detail of how the team came together in order to save lives’ - paying homage to colleagues at the hospital.

Mum-of-two Jules, who has worked at Bassetlaw Hospital for eight years, described how she had to isolate from her family ‘only to go to work’ for the three months - coming home from each shift ‘exhausted and lonely’.

She said: “I had to speak with my family as I knew I couldn’t be with them or my partner due to the unknown risks of taking the virus home.

“I put my estate in order, paid off my mortgage with the savings I had and informed my family of my wishes if anything should happen to me.”

Jules’ collection of pictures show what it was like on the ITU during the pandemic - as health workers spent entire shifts behind personal protective equipment.

One poignant shot shows a worker being fitted with a large hood with her hands folded anxiously between her legs.

Another captures a nurse with her hand on a door window inside the ITU - where no-one could enter without being fully encased in the protective gear.

Jules told how while working on the unit workers often communicated with walkie talkies so they could be heard through face masks - with one shown in a photo next to some pens.

She said: “Each member of staff involved had to be fit-tested for masks and outfits following Government and Nursing Council guidelines.

“My colleagues and I attended meetings, briefs, updates and intense rapid training ensuring we were equipped with as much knowledge as possible and we were scared.”

Grandmother-of-two Jules, who runs her own studio and has a First degree in fine art photography has been awarded Bronze in the Documentary category of the Rise International Photography Awards.

She said: “It’s great to be appreciated but I wanted to do this for the patients and my colleagues.”

Thank you to all who support local journalism with a print subscription. The events of 2020 mean trusted, local journalism is more reliant than ever on your support. We couldn't do it without you. Please subscribe here https://www.localsubsplus.co.uk/ so we can keep campaigning on your behalf. Stay safe.