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Never has there been such a collaboration of photographers who've captured nationwide healthcare workers to reveal the human story.
We share this with gratitude to those who dedicated their lives to service during such an intense period of time.
We’re currently working on more showcases through indoor and outdoor exhibitions. Please do get in touch if you’re interested in sharing these touching stories in your area.
Click on images to discover stories from healthcare workers.
Jess Simon, Therapeutic Care Support
South Tees Hospitals
NHS Foundation
"The most challenging part has been working with confused patients with Dementia or Alzheimer. These patients are so scared and frightened.
We have been their only family and support. It has been hard because due to the confusion, these patients tend to remove treatment such as oxygen cannulas, which has resulted in
deterioration of their health.
I’ve held the hands of patients when their family couldn’t. I’ve cried because they can’t understand why the only faces they can see are strangers. I’ve sat bedside with Covid-19 positive patients for extended periods of time to ensure that they are keeping their treatment on. I wish that every patient made a full recovery. "
PHOTOGRAPHER: Aaron Jeffels
NHS Foundation
"The most challenging part has been working with confused patients with Dementia or Alzheimer. These patients are so scared and frightened.
We have been their only family and support. It has been hard because due to the confusion, these patients tend to remove treatment such as oxygen cannulas, which has resulted in
deterioration of their health.
I’ve held the hands of patients when their family couldn’t. I’ve cried because they can’t understand why the only faces they can see are strangers. I’ve sat bedside with Covid-19 positive patients for extended periods of time to ensure that they are keeping their treatment on. I wish that every patient made a full recovery. "
PHOTOGRAPHER: Aaron Jeffels
Dr. Heather Stirling with fiancé Dr. Joseph Harvey
Palliative Care Doctor
Marie Curie Hospice, Edinburgh
"I’ve been overwhelmed by kindness: The families who stepped back and accepted our no visiting policies. The patients who’d ask if we were ok. The staff who stepped up to multiple extra shifts uncomplaining. To the managers who kept checking in with us all, despite the mountains of new work they have taken on.
Everyone was exhausted but everyone kept adapting smiling (behind the masks) and supporting each other.
Supporting a family member through the end of their life is hard. To have to do that at a distance, and not to be able to have a proper funeral, just doesn’t bear thinking about. They have been so kind, so grateful and so accepting of what we have been able to offer and that has been truly
humbling."
PHOTOGRAPHER: Austin Mitchell
Marie Curie Hospice, Edinburgh
"I’ve been overwhelmed by kindness: The families who stepped back and accepted our no visiting policies. The patients who’d ask if we were ok. The staff who stepped up to multiple extra shifts uncomplaining. To the managers who kept checking in with us all, despite the mountains of new work they have taken on.
Everyone was exhausted but everyone kept adapting smiling (behind the masks) and supporting each other.
Supporting a family member through the end of their life is hard. To have to do that at a distance, and not to be able to have a proper funeral, just doesn’t bear thinking about. They have been so kind, so grateful and so accepting of what we have been able to offer and that has been truly
humbling."
PHOTOGRAPHER: Austin Mitchell
Edward Irish, Nursing Assistant
Queen Elizabeth University
Hospitals Birmingham
NHS FoundationTrust
"Watching patients pass away whilst I was wearing full PPE, which was very hot. Being afraid of contracting Covid-19 and seeing all my colleagues exhausted, were things that challenged me the most.
However I was inspired by watching all the nurses just getting on with the job at hand and having to deal with the amount of the patients that
we had.
I feel honoured and proud that I can do this alongside all the people who work for the NHS.
I think this pandemic has taken a little piece of all of us that we'll never get back."
PHOTOGRAPHER: Clive Blair
Hospitals Birmingham
NHS FoundationTrust
"Watching patients pass away whilst I was wearing full PPE, which was very hot. Being afraid of contracting Covid-19 and seeing all my colleagues exhausted, were things that challenged me the most.
However I was inspired by watching all the nurses just getting on with the job at hand and having to deal with the amount of the patients that
we had.
I feel honoured and proud that I can do this alongside all the people who work for the NHS.
I think this pandemic has taken a little piece of all of us that we'll never get back."
PHOTOGRAPHER: Clive Blair
Maggie Mya, Midwife
Royal Sussex County Hospital Brighton NHS Trust
"The unknown was the
greatest challenge.
The nature of my job and personality means that those I care for will always come first. Working in a pandemic, with the high potential of risk to my own health and that of my colleagues, was really difficult.
I’ve been truly inspired by the
incredible teams I work with day in day out. Never in our wildest dreams did we imagine that we would be working side by side through a global pandemic – caring for our patients and bringing newborns into such a turbulent world. We all know that newborns wait for no one and it has been incredibly humbling, to work with the spectrum of death all around us – as we bring new life safely into the world."
PHOTOGRAPHER: Amanda Thomas
"The unknown was the
greatest challenge.
The nature of my job and personality means that those I care for will always come first. Working in a pandemic, with the high potential of risk to my own health and that of my colleagues, was really difficult.
I’ve been truly inspired by the
incredible teams I work with day in day out. Never in our wildest dreams did we imagine that we would be working side by side through a global pandemic – caring for our patients and bringing newborns into such a turbulent world. We all know that newborns wait for no one and it has been incredibly humbling, to work with the spectrum of death all around us – as we bring new life safely into the world."
PHOTOGRAPHER: Amanda Thomas
Michael Hudson, Lead Nurse Ophthamology
HMR Division Integrated Care
Pennine Acute Hospital NHS Trust
"The NHS was ramping up like I have never seen in all my career of nearly 30 years. Wards were being changed into intensive Care Units, my friend who I was supposed to be going to Base Camp Everest with, was moved to work in ICU out of his normal role as a theatre practitioner.
It felt like there was only myself going to work, the roads were empty. The world seemed at a strange peace with itself and yet it was like, only I really knew the terror that was happening all around me. It was like living in a parallel universe, a nightmare but it was real and at times we
were all in it together.
The only relaxation I could find was to keep training for Everest and spend time on the hills, just myself and my dog."
PHOTOGRAPHER: Brett Harkness
Pennine Acute Hospital NHS Trust
"The NHS was ramping up like I have never seen in all my career of nearly 30 years. Wards were being changed into intensive Care Units, my friend who I was supposed to be going to Base Camp Everest with, was moved to work in ICU out of his normal role as a theatre practitioner.
It felt like there was only myself going to work, the roads were empty. The world seemed at a strange peace with itself and yet it was like, only I really knew the terror that was happening all around me. It was like living in a parallel universe, a nightmare but it was real and at times we
were all in it together.
The only relaxation I could find was to keep training for Everest and spend time on the hills, just myself and my dog."
PHOTOGRAPHER: Brett Harkness
Bev Ryan-Hawes, Senior Mental Health Nurse
Mill View Hospital Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
"My wife was ill with Covid and needed an ambulance one night as she couldn’t breathe. My fear of losing her was unbearable. I couldn’t let her see this as I didn’t want to make her feel fear, and then worsen her illness. At the same time my mum was very ill, and I felt I had to choose between being with mum and my wife. I chose my wife. My mum later died and I never had the chance to see her alive again.
Holding the space for my beautiful wife, surrounding and bathing her with love whilst she healed and recovered. Holding the space at work at times of uncertainty for junior staff and patients, who were already in fear, through mental distress and now feeling more fearful because of Covid-19."
PHOTOGRAPHER: David Green
"My wife was ill with Covid and needed an ambulance one night as she couldn’t breathe. My fear of losing her was unbearable. I couldn’t let her see this as I didn’t want to make her feel fear, and then worsen her illness. At the same time my mum was very ill, and I felt I had to choose between being with mum and my wife. I chose my wife. My mum later died and I never had the chance to see her alive again.
Holding the space for my beautiful wife, surrounding and bathing her with love whilst she healed and recovered. Holding the space at work at times of uncertainty for junior staff and patients, who were already in fear, through mental distress and now feeling more fearful because of Covid-19."
PHOTOGRAPHER: David Green
Dr Yasotha Browne, GP & Clinical Lead
Homeless Healthcare Team, Solent NHS Trust Southampton
"Once lockdown hit, our walk-ins abruptly stopped at Homeless Healthcare Southampton. So we gathered a multidisciplinary street outreach group to help the most vulnerable homeless people.
This was a real eye opener, seeing the harsh reality of the lives of those most in need. We were all very grateful for the Government initiative to get homeless people off the streets for the time that it was there.
The experience has made me value what we have, as well as given me more knowledge of what we need more to help others.
Exploring different ways of working has been healthy."
PHOTOGRAPHER: Dave Dodge
"Once lockdown hit, our walk-ins abruptly stopped at Homeless Healthcare Southampton. So we gathered a multidisciplinary street outreach group to help the most vulnerable homeless people.
This was a real eye opener, seeing the harsh reality of the lives of those most in need. We were all very grateful for the Government initiative to get homeless people off the streets for the time that it was there.
The experience has made me value what we have, as well as given me more knowledge of what we need more to help others.
Exploring different ways of working has been healthy."
PHOTOGRAPHER: Dave Dodge
Caroline Lawrence, ICU Staff Nurse
James Paget NHS University Trust, Norfolk.
"I was shielded 5 weeks after
Lockdown began. In ICU, staff are more than colleagues, they are your work family. When access to your own family and your work family are denied it isolates you in ways you can't imagine. It has given me time to think about what's important and about what I miss, but the thing I miss the most is not being able to hug my son, my mum and baby granddaughter. That's an ache nothing can replace.
The support of the public towards healthcare workers has been astounding. It just proved to me that there IS community spirit and we can all pull together when the need arises. It takes a situation like this to help you believe in the kindness of strangers."
PHOTOGRAPHER: Angela Adams
"I was shielded 5 weeks after
Lockdown began. In ICU, staff are more than colleagues, they are your work family. When access to your own family and your work family are denied it isolates you in ways you can't imagine. It has given me time to think about what's important and about what I miss, but the thing I miss the most is not being able to hug my son, my mum and baby granddaughter. That's an ache nothing can replace.
The support of the public towards healthcare workers has been astounding. It just proved to me that there IS community spirit and we can all pull together when the need arises. It takes a situation like this to help you believe in the kindness of strangers."
PHOTOGRAPHER: Angela Adams
Grahame Fraser, Registered General Nurse Educator
Birmingham
"I work for the Learning and
Development team that supports the nursing associates and nurses across the community care trust, to be able to respond and develop during this COVID-19 pandemic. The public health impact is touching our private and professional lives, thus I
understand that students might be anxious about the impact on their patients, colleagues and families.
I have been inspired by the
professionalism that has been demonstrated by these new members of the nursing family that support our NHS.
Some staff volunteered to work at the Nightingale Unit which demonstrates the dedication they have for caring for people in the community."
PHOTOGRAPHER: Jesse Gerald
"I work for the Learning and
Development team that supports the nursing associates and nurses across the community care trust, to be able to respond and develop during this COVID-19 pandemic. The public health impact is touching our private and professional lives, thus I
understand that students might be anxious about the impact on their patients, colleagues and families.
I have been inspired by the
professionalism that has been demonstrated by these new members of the nursing family that support our NHS.
Some staff volunteered to work at the Nightingale Unit which demonstrates the dedication they have for caring for people in the community."
PHOTOGRAPHER: Jesse Gerald
Caitlan Evans, Midwife
Lister Hospital, Stevenage, East & North Herts, NHS Trust
"I can no longer be a physical shoulder to cry on, or offer a hug when a birthing persons strength falters, or even offer a comforting smile. Now I have to convey my emotions with my eyes and offer my support with my words and actions. It has been an amazing learning curve. I’ve had fantastic feedback from birthing people for the support they have received.
My wife has single handedly worked from home 9-5 whilst home-schooling the children and all the other bits that life entails. Her resilience has
inspired me no end. My children have had to learn a new way of life. They can no longer cuddle me, when I come home from a 12 hour shift. They know to wait until I’ve 'washed the ‘Macarona’ virus off'. They've taken it on the chin and just got on with it."
PHOTOGRAPHER: Tara Gillen
"I can no longer be a physical shoulder to cry on, or offer a hug when a birthing persons strength falters, or even offer a comforting smile. Now I have to convey my emotions with my eyes and offer my support with my words and actions. It has been an amazing learning curve. I’ve had fantastic feedback from birthing people for the support they have received.
My wife has single handedly worked from home 9-5 whilst home-schooling the children and all the other bits that life entails. Her resilience has
inspired me no end. My children have had to learn a new way of life. They can no longer cuddle me, when I come home from a 12 hour shift. They know to wait until I’ve 'washed the ‘Macarona’ virus off'. They've taken it on the chin and just got on with it."
PHOTOGRAPHER: Tara Gillen
Scholastique Kamuisuku, Support Care Worker
Community Integrated Care's
EachStep, Manchester.
"It was very challenging knowing that we had Covid-19 in the building. I did feel at first like I was putting myself at risk, but this didn’t stop me from doing my duties as a carer. I wanted to support the residents. Even though I contracted Covid-19 - it did not stop me caring. Once I recovered, I returned straight back to work.
It was so upsetting seeing people I have supported for a long time become unwell with the virus and pass away without their loved ones by their side. No matter how stressful the situation, myself and my colleagues have always tried to stay positive and deliver the best care
possible.
We also try to support the families that cannot be here with their loved one as much as we can."
PHTOGRAPHER: Julie Herbert Adams
EachStep, Manchester.
"It was very challenging knowing that we had Covid-19 in the building. I did feel at first like I was putting myself at risk, but this didn’t stop me from doing my duties as a carer. I wanted to support the residents. Even though I contracted Covid-19 - it did not stop me caring. Once I recovered, I returned straight back to work.
It was so upsetting seeing people I have supported for a long time become unwell with the virus and pass away without their loved ones by their side. No matter how stressful the situation, myself and my colleagues have always tried to stay positive and deliver the best care
possible.
We also try to support the families that cannot be here with their loved one as much as we can."
PHTOGRAPHER: Julie Herbert Adams
Shaunee Jamieson, Continuity of Carer Midwife
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
NHS Grampian, Scotland
"Midwife’ comes from the Latin term meaning, ‘with women’ and I feel that sums up our job so well. Part of my job is reassuring and supporting women and it’s been hard to do that through the pandemic because we just didn’t know what was coming next. I had to have some really
difficult, emotional conversations behind a mask and full PPE, which felt really odd.
I come from Shetland originally, so getting to family involves either a plane or ferry journey. When
restrictions eased, I could have
travelled to see them – but it didn’t feel right. I was still working and going into other households daily to visit women in my caseload."
NHS Grampian, Scotland
"Midwife’ comes from the Latin term meaning, ‘with women’ and I feel that sums up our job so well. Part of my job is reassuring and supporting women and it’s been hard to do that through the pandemic because we just didn’t know what was coming next. I had to have some really
difficult, emotional conversations behind a mask and full PPE, which felt really odd.
I come from Shetland originally, so getting to family involves either a plane or ferry journey. When
restrictions eased, I could have
travelled to see them – but it didn’t feel right. I was still working and going into other households daily to visit women in my caseload."
Kiera Hagan, Midwifery Ward Manager
South Warwickshire
NHS Foundation Trust
"I was 25 weeks pregnant at the time of this portrait. I was managing one ward. The week after I found out I was pregnant, the manager of the other ward stepped down and I took on that ward too. Two weeks later the UK went into Lockdown.
Throughout, I had to manage the anxiety levels of all of my staff and made all of the ladies arriving in the wards feel safe and comfortable, all whilst dealing with my own worries about working whilst pregnant.
My family were telling me not to go to work but I felt an overwhelming need to help – I felt like my colleagues were going to war and I didn’t want to leave them. I was scared for my patients, myself and my family's safety, and generally frightened for what was going to happen."
PHOTOGRAPHER: Charlie Flounders
NHS Foundation Trust
"I was 25 weeks pregnant at the time of this portrait. I was managing one ward. The week after I found out I was pregnant, the manager of the other ward stepped down and I took on that ward too. Two weeks later the UK went into Lockdown.
Throughout, I had to manage the anxiety levels of all of my staff and made all of the ladies arriving in the wards feel safe and comfortable, all whilst dealing with my own worries about working whilst pregnant.
My family were telling me not to go to work but I felt an overwhelming need to help – I felt like my colleagues were going to war and I didn’t want to leave them. I was scared for my patients, myself and my family's safety, and generally frightened for what was going to happen."
PHOTOGRAPHER: Charlie Flounders
Jules Barnes-Hunter, ODP (Operating department practitioner)
Worksop, Nottinghamshire
Whilst working in ICU, I was isolated from family due to the risk of infection and intensity to workload. There was a sense of loneliness, disparity, disbelief, panic, anxiety and a need to put my estate in order for my family in case I caught the virus and died.
As a photographer as well as a qualified healthcare professional, I sought permission to create a photo journal. This was my inspiration to give back to my work colleagues who throughout all this pulled to gather.
The pandemic has had a profound effect on many who worked the frontline. As health workers we were faced with a virus which terrified, kills and damages many those effected.
Many of us felt a sense of foreboding particularly during the early stages of viewing the the Government’s daily update.
Many of my co-workers talked about the feeling of impeding doom; especially as we watched the virus spread from country to country. The thought process of rationalising what was ahead of us we understood only too well medically how the brain’s physiological response to trauma and stress centred, fight, flight, or freeze part of the brain; triggering adrenaline flow, pushing up pulse and blood pressure levels dramatically, and flooding the heart, brain into action. There appeared to be little option to us as health workers, this was our profession.
The pandemic brought about the power of a strong unity and a selfless sense of purpose. It has been an experience that changed us, and those changes will last a lifetime. The willingness to die for another person is a form of love, and is a profound and essential part of the experience.
The experience I’ll take away from this pandemic is camaraderie during the period working within ICU."
PHOTOGRAPHER: Annie Burbage
Whilst working in ICU, I was isolated from family due to the risk of infection and intensity to workload. There was a sense of loneliness, disparity, disbelief, panic, anxiety and a need to put my estate in order for my family in case I caught the virus and died.
As a photographer as well as a qualified healthcare professional, I sought permission to create a photo journal. This was my inspiration to give back to my work colleagues who throughout all this pulled to gather.
The pandemic has had a profound effect on many who worked the frontline. As health workers we were faced with a virus which terrified, kills and damages many those effected.
Many of us felt a sense of foreboding particularly during the early stages of viewing the the Government’s daily update.
Many of my co-workers talked about the feeling of impeding doom; especially as we watched the virus spread from country to country. The thought process of rationalising what was ahead of us we understood only too well medically how the brain’s physiological response to trauma and stress centred, fight, flight, or freeze part of the brain; triggering adrenaline flow, pushing up pulse and blood pressure levels dramatically, and flooding the heart, brain into action. There appeared to be little option to us as health workers, this was our profession.
The pandemic brought about the power of a strong unity and a selfless sense of purpose. It has been an experience that changed us, and those changes will last a lifetime. The willingness to die for another person is a form of love, and is a profound and essential part of the experience.
The experience I’ll take away from this pandemic is camaraderie during the period working within ICU."
PHOTOGRAPHER: Annie Burbage
Diane Barker, Hospice Manager
Marie Curie Hospice
Liverpool
"Throughout the Lockdown period we had great support from the local
community and had numerous donations of tea, coffee, sweets and biscuits. One day someone brought in pizzas for the ward staff.
The support from the general public has been phenomenal and really touching. We had a selection of homemade thank you cards sent in from the local school children,thanking us for the work we were doing during the pandemic."
PHOTOGRAPHER: Allen Thomasson
Liverpool
"Throughout the Lockdown period we had great support from the local
community and had numerous donations of tea, coffee, sweets and biscuits. One day someone brought in pizzas for the ward staff.
The support from the general public has been phenomenal and really touching. We had a selection of homemade thank you cards sent in from the local school children,thanking us for the work we were doing during the pandemic."
PHOTOGRAPHER: Allen Thomasson
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