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Livewell doctor shares her experiences and learning during COVID-19 pandemic

by | 4th May 2020 | News

Two Livewell Southwest (LSW) doctors shared their expertise and learning nationally as part of a live broadcast supporting medical colleagues through the COVID-19 pandemic.

 Dr Kate Lovett,  Consultant Psychiatrist and Dean of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and Dr Leanne Tozer, Specialty Registrar in Liaison Psychiatry, took part in one of a series of webinars organised by the Royal College.

 Leanne was one of four invited speakers while Kate facilitated a 35-minute discussion.

Leanne described her personal experience of having to be isolated during COVID-19 because of a health condition. She overcame her initial negative feelings and guilt at not being able to support and learn alongside frontline colleagues by looking for ways she could work in new ways to support them and reduce their workload.

She said: “I talked about my experience of shielding and continuing to work from home, making the most of opportunities provided by the current pandemic and the potential benefits to training that can be achieved with flexibility of working and support from those around you. 

“I want to communicate the ability of those with chronic illnesses to remain connected and useful through their professional work at this difficult time when facing months of isolation and how much potential there is for individuals and organisations in the here and now.”

Dr Alison Battersby, Consultant Psychiatrist at LSW, said: “This is a good example of how as an organisation Livewell is flexing to help people stay working during this time and the positive impact it has on staff and the people we are supporting.

“Leanne’s message is inspirational and it’s really impressive to see how she has taken a very difficult situation and used it to think about how she can do things differently to continue to make a huge contribution professionally, have a positive impact on her colleagues and community and develop her own skills and learning.

 “It’s fantastic that she now has the platform to share this great piece of work nationally.”

You can read Leanne’s experience here.