Page 121 - Mind, Body & Spirit Number 104 2020/21

2020/21 what a year! Throughout the UK and across the world no one was ever expecting to be faced with the uncertainty and unforeseen circumstances that were to take place. It’s
been a rollercoaster of a year for everyone at DMRC, as I’m sure was the case for all RAPTCI colleagues.
As the news broke back in March 2020 and the nation was told to stay at home, all residential courses within DMRC ceased immediately. Only Complex Trauma and Neurological patients continued with clinical delivery. In the early stages of the pandemic, DMRC was established by DPHC as an ideal location to facilitate a COVID-19 bedding down facility should it be required. This was a mammoth task that challenged all staff at DMRC. The RAPTCIs were used in a range of diverse roles across the Unit and were commended on their dynamic and extremely effective ability to re-role across all departments. These included but were not exclusive to: working in the QMs at short notice, assisting on the wards to support nursing staff, as well continuing their clinical duties.
Many DMRC clinicians remained at work during the initial outbreak, utilising all their resources to begin vital research on the rehabilitation process for servicemen and women who have affected by COVID-19. After the initial stages of designing the COVID-19 rehabilitation course, it was rolled out and delivered residentially over a two-week period. The course was aimed at educating patients and dealing with the post COVID-19 effects, which often remain both physically and mentally. In addition, it provides patients with information on how to safely follow a progressive return to fitness and focuses on areas such as mindfulness; goal setting; planning and pacing; breathing dysfunction and improving health anxieties. All types of post- COVID-19 patients who attended the rehabilitation course were either those who were managed by their local Unit medical team or those previously admitted on to intensive care wards. The course is continuing to have an extremely positive impact on patients and their feedback has been incredibly appreciated by all the delivery staff. It’s worth mentioning that the collaborative Tri- Service and civilian effort within DMRC is undoubtedly the reason for its success.
In September 2020, the Force Generation teams were given the green light to reopen its doors to residential courses. During the period of the first national lockdown, DMRC took the opportunity to re-model their clinical delivery from a three-week residential package to a virtual remote learning / residential course. This new
The Jon Woods gym set up for the COVID-19 rehabilitation course
model has now been in place for several months and continues to be welcomed by both staff and patients.
Despite the tragedy and challenges presented in the last year, we have been able to learn from and adapt to the changing needs of the pandemic whilst still maintaining a clinical output. This had led to many positive experiences for all involved at DMRC. Although the threat of more obstacles ahead is highly likely, the staff remain extremely optimistic about 2021.
Force Generation Update
SSgt (SSI) D Payling RAPTC
As soon as the PM put the Country into lockdown, business as we knew it came to a grinding holt; I would imagine like everywhere else. Following a turbulent few weeks adapting to the new norm ‘working from home and home schooling’ the Lower limbs (LL) and Spines / Upper Quadrant (SUQ) teams started to collaborate and devise a new timetable for residential patient care. This turned out to be a positive experience as it gave staff something to focus on and the chance to rewrite the timetable from a blank canvas; instead of continuing to follow timetables that were devised in the Headley Court era which many of the staff had no previous input into.
Subsequently, the three-week length of course remained. However, the patients now conduct a week of remote learning at home covering most of the educational elements, via presentations which both LL and SUQ teams use, prior to attending DMRC for two weeks of residential care. The onsite timetable was developed to account for the individual needs of the patients and it has more white space which allows for patients to recover and/or have appointments with different clinicians / services. Another new aspect of the LL course is the three-month review; patients return to DMRC to undertake outcome measures / testing along with a review of their individual rehab programme. The rationale behind this is to allow for a greater period for physiological adaptations to take place and to aid compliance.
Prior to patients attending the new initial course during lockdown, significant changes were made to the gymnasiums. Kit was moved, then moved again and again until the infection control and prevention team were happy that rehabilitation could take place safely. Since the first lockdown to date, courses have been running safely and effectively which reflects the excellent collaboration and teamwork from all staff to aid the continuation of rehabilitation services.
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DDR & REHABILITATION
DEFENCE MEDICAL REHABILITATION CENTRE (DMRC) STANFORD HALL
WO2 (QMSI) L Hathaway RAPTC
Sgt (SI) D Charmer RAPTC leading with a gait training session on the HydroWorx underwater treadmill
Sgt (SI) M Quinn RAPTC conducting a Y-Balance Test in full PPE