Feature: Ward Manager Jenni Atkinson Q&A

Jenni has been a nurse for 19 years, joining The Walton Centre as a Staff Nurse in 2002. As Ward Manager on Chavasse Ward since January 2021, she talks about the positivity which has shone through despite the challenges of the past 18 months. 

 

What kind of treatment and care is delivered on Chavasse Ward? 

We care for patients with long-term neurological conditions, for example epilepsy and multiple sclerosis. We also have some surgical patients and a number of beds reserved for suspected or positive COVID patients. We also carry out telemetry, where patients are monitored 24 hours a day through electrodes applied to the head to investigate seizures via an EEG. 

 

How would you describe the vibe on Chavasse Ward? 

Busy! The team is incredibly friendly and close-knit; everyone is eager and passionate about the treatment and care they deliver for our patients and their families. We have some very complex patients, some of whom require constant one-to-one care and it can be challenging but it’s such a great team here – everyone supports each other. 

 

Challenging is a word often used to describe the past 18 months. Chavasse Ward was the dedicated COVID ward at The Walton Centre, what impact did that have? 

It has been incredibly challenging, and also very upsetting – on a professional, and personal level. Losing so many patients and coping with staff absences and all the constant changes was so difficult. However, the team has been incredibly strong throughout. When we asked people if they wanted to move, they all wanted to stay on the ward and stay together – that’s what has got them through; being stronger together. 

 

What does the future hold for Chavasse Ward? 

For the foreseeable we will continue to take suspected or confirmed COVID patients in our red isolation areas. But we’re also continuing to move back towards ‘normal’; increasing treatments and services like telemetry, plasma exchange and deep brain stimulation for patients who have had these on hold due to the pandemic. It’s been very upsetting – for patients and our teams - to have to delay services like this but we’re really positive about the increase in patients now being able to access the treatment they need. Hopefully, it’s a brighter future! 

 

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Notes to editors

Further information, or to arrange a visit contact the Communications Team on 0151 556 3397 or email wcf-tr.waltoncentre.communications@nhs.net.

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust is the only hospital trust in the UK specialising in neurology, neurosurgery and pain services. It has twice been rated as ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission. Although the majority of patients come from Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales, Lancashire and the Isle of Man, for some specialist treatments of complex disorders we see patients from all parts of the country, referred by their GPs or other neurologists, neurosurgeons and pain clinicians.

For more information please visit: www.thewaltoncentre.nhs.uk or follow the Trust on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Lower Lane, Fazakerley, Liverpool L9 7LJ
0151 525 3611