Specialist Nurse uses experience fighting COVID-19 in Beirut to help fight COVID back home

Matilda Willow, who works as a Specialist Burns Nurse at the Regional Burns Unit at Pinderfields Hospital, tells how fighting COVID-19 in Lebanon with frontline medical aid charity UK-Med, helped her to build her resilience ready to fight COVID-19 back home.

"I felt like I came home refreshed, with more energy, passion and hope to keep fighting. I came back feeling like I was part of a global picture, especially as I know any gains we make here have benefits in Lebanon and elsewhere," says Matilda.

27-year old Matilda spent six weeks coaching national staff in four hospitals in Beirut, as part of an eight-month response with UK-Med as part of the government’s UK-Emergency Medical Team. They were responding to a surge in cases of COVID-19, following the devastating blast which ripped through Beirut Port in Lebanon in August 2020.

“I feel like the experience has shaped me as a nurse and changed the way I deliver care and interact with other members of staff,” she continues: “I now have more confidence in responding when looking at areas of practice that need to be improved.”

Well done Matilda for all of your brave and selfless work at both Mid Yorkshire Hospitals and abroad.

For more information about UK-Med, visit: www.uk-med.org.