HEROIC children’s unit staff braved treacherous conditions and slept overnight in examination beds to make sure they were on hand to care for patients.

Doctors and nurses at Colchester General Hospital’s children’s unit went the extra mile to ensure every child could expect a high standard of care.

Clinical lead Andrea Turner praised their “truly outstanding” commitment throughout last week, when the Beast from the East brought snow and freezing temperatures sweeping through Essex.

Staff drove through horrendous conditions to make home visits to patients, some walked for miles to reach the hospital while others slept overnight in the hospital to ensure they could work the next day.

Dr Lou Chanarin, community paediatrician, walked the majority of the six miles from her home in Layer de la Haye to arrive for her shift.

Dr Turner said: “Many staff walked quite considerable distances to get here.

“Alix Wilmore, a speech and language therapist managed to get here for her clinic after a four hour journey from Harwich.”

Darren Lawrence, general manager at the unit, said: “Dr Helen Alabede has two children, both under the age of eight, and she couldn’t arrange childcare so brought them with her so she could meet her commitments.

“Four nurses slept in outpatients, in examination beds, to make sure they were there in time for their shifts.”

Jill Carnell, matron for community paediatrics, said her team managed to brave near impossible conditions throughout Tendring to reach patients.

She said: “One of our community nurses got out to Clacton, she had to go and see a baby who could not feed and wholly depends on a tube.

“In all they prevented three potential visits to the hospital which would have been dangerous.”

Kim Ness, children’s ward sister, slept in the outpatients department with her colleagues.

“Four nurses made the decision to sleep here overnight,” she said.

“We wouldn’t have survived it without them, we rely on staff being really supportive of each other – this job is all about supporting your colleagues.

“They would rather stay here than let anyone down.”

Going the extra mile

Hospital staff who went the extra mile during the week of heavy snow and dangerous conditions have received high praise.

It was not just the doctors and nurses who displayed commitment to their jobs, with the administrative staff putting in the extra hours too.

Secretary Karen Lee battled through the snow from Frating in her automatic car despite her disability.” She said: “I have Parkinson’s disease so do have mobility problems.

“I followed a snow plough which was clearing the way, it was scary but I took it slow.”

Dr Andrea Turner, clinical lead of children’s services, said: “Karen’s work behind the scenes is critical to the running of the department. Everyone has been amazing and deserve all the praise they get.

“I am really impressed with the effort shown, contingency plans were made and some patients were given phone appointments which meant they were able to be helped at home without risking travel to the hospital.”

Hospital managing director and deputy chief executive Neill Moloney said: “We’d like to thank all staff across our organisation who made extra efforts during the cold and snowy weather to get to work so they could provide services to our patients.”

Chief Executive Nick Hulme added: “There was a great response by so many staff to make sure services were safe.”