University of Hull nursing expert Nicki Credland has been appointed to lead vital COVID-19 training at Harrogate’s Nightingale Hospital.
Ms Credland, also chair at the British Association for Critical Care Nurses, has taken the position of Lead Critical Care Nurse Educator at the temporary Yorkshire hospital.
The role sees Ms Credland, Head of Department for Paramedical, Perioperative and Advanced Practice at the University of Hull, play a key role in the development and delivery of training for critical care nurses at Yorkshire’s Nightingale Hospital.
Ms Credland said it was “an honour” to have been approached for the role, as the country continues its fight against COVID-19.
She said: “It is a great honour to have been approached and offered the role, working at such a high level in an area I feel extremely passionate about – critical care nursing.
“Nightingale Hospitals have been established across the country to help save lives amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I am incredibly proud to be able to play my part in these unprecedented times of challenge. Critical care nurses, and all front-line workers in our NHS, are working tirelessly in immensely difficult conditions.
“It has been incredibly humbling in recent weeks to have seen the outpouring of support from the public for the work our NHS staff do every day – saving lives and keeping people safe.”
Ms Credland said around 300 nurses had gone through training at the Harrogate Nightingale Hospital in the past week.
Harrogate’s Convention Centre has been converted to provide 500 hospital beds for patients who have tested positive for COVID-19.
With hundreds more staff being trained both this week, and in the weeks ahead, huge efforts have been made to respond to the rapidly-evolving situation.
Ms Credland has been supported at Harrogate’s Nightingale Hospital by University of Hull lecturers Anne-Marie Holland and Andy Barker.
Outside of her new role at Harrogate Nightingale Hospital, Ms Credland has also been announced as a specialist advisor to NHS England, on the topic of critical care nursing.
“When developing new policies or guidelines which involve critical care nursing, NHS England will now approach myself as an expert advisor,” she said.
“The areas covered are extremely broad – it could be anything from infection control and end-of-life-care, to visiting hours in hospitals.
“It is a privilege to hold this role with NHS England, and I look forward to working with them on future policies and changes on a national scale.”
As the UK continues to react to the Coronavirus pandemic, national newspapers and broadcasters alike have turned to the expertise of Ms Credland on countless occasions.
Ms Credland has provided invaluable insight into how NHS frontline services are coping with Coronavirus, and the pressures and demands it is placing on health staff.
She has appeared on BBC, ITV and Sky national news channels, along with prominent interviews in national titles including The Sunday Times, Daily Mail, Independent and Nursing Times.