Twickenham Royal Welcome for NHS Staff
England’s last Quilter International of 2020, the Autumn Nations Cup final against France, sees 400 free tickets provided to NHS staff, with 50 seated in the Royal Box, as 2,000 supporters return to Twickenham Stadium for the first time since March.
So many in the rugby family and across the entire nation have been cared for by our remarkable National Health Service staff and, building on the extensive fundraising and support of frontline workers by rugby clubs, the Rugby Football Union wanted to recognise their remarkable efforts during the pandemic.
“Our staff at the stadium have worked hard to put numerous measures in place to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all those attending the game, including 400 NHS workers who have been invited as a thank you from the rugby family for all their sacrifice and hard work this year,” said RFU CEO, Bill Sweeney.
Zainab Alema
Among those in the Royal Box will be Zainab Alema, who recently became Sunday Times grassroots sportswoman of the year. Barnes RFC player, wife and mother of three, Zainab is on the NHS frontline as an intensive care neonatal nurse at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital.
The founder of rugby charity Studs In The Mud, she was recognised in the awards for encouraging black and Muslim women and girls to play rugby. Zainab herself plays in the back row and invited Sarah Bosworth, her inside centre team mate who nominated her for the Sunday Times award, to accompany her to the match.
“It feels amazing to be invited to Twickenham and to be in the Royal Box,” she said. “I’m working the night shift just before the England match but wouldn’t miss this chance for the world.
“My usual night shift sees me working with babies who need special care but will soon be going home and also babies who need extra support with their airways and breathing. It can be really busy but having had my first baby in that situation gave me an understanding of how the parents feel.”
Jessie Collins
Among other NHS colleagues glad to be at the Twickenham Test match is Jessie Collins, a senior nurse and experienced endoscopist who works at West Herts Hospital. Nothing had prepared her, however, for the day the service closed down and she and her colleagues were transferred to help with the crushing pandemic.
“As a senior nurse, I went to ITU where I had no previous experience. On day one, my ventilated patient was the first I had ever cared for. ITU was full, we were using theatres and day surgery, many nurses became ill with Covid. It was an incredibly challenging time, especially seeing so many people die, many of them colleagues.
“No-one knew how to deal with this strange new virus. It was like living in an alternate reality, like in a war zone. Driving home after the first shift I was crying but something makes you just get up and go, do whatever you can to help.
“People came together for the common cause. One of my senior nurses set up the rapid testing of staff, and I helped with the swabbing in the car park regardless of weather. Colleagues’ team spirit got me through. Restarting our service in July, it felt weird, wondering was there more I could have done, feeling did it really happen. There are always people who’ve had the same experience that I can talk to and my endoscopy team have been amazing.
“I’ve never been to Twickenham Stadium and I wanted to do something for my partner Alex Jaycocks who plays at Chesham Stags. Rugby has been his life, playing since he was 11, but he hasn’t been able to play, while supporting me and looking after the kids as I worked shifts. He sent me a video of him and my daughter dressed up making loads of noise for clap for carers, it was wonderful to see on night duty when I was tired and hungry.
“I started watching rugby with Alex, found a community of people at his club who have taken me under their wing. I’m so glad to be able to do something special for Alex because we couldn’t have done what we did without the love and support of all the people living with those on the NHS front line.”
James Fishlock
James Fishlock will be setting off for Twickenham too. He lives nearby in Brentford and is normally based in the community working for Hounslow & Richmond Community Care helping cardiac patients to recover after heart operations. During the first lockdown he was redeployed to work on a Covid ward at Teddington Memorial Hospital.
“Quite few of us went to support the regular nursing team and it was a very difficult time for them as they had just lost a colleague to coronavirus so it was very emotional,” said James. “They also had to guide us as we came in and we had to adapt quickly. The first couple of weeks were pretty tough but it soon stabilised and after a period of time we moved back to our regular roles.
“Initially, we had to work virtually supporting patients through rehab but we started face to face appointments as PPE became more readily available. The exercise class we normally offer still has to be a virtual class though and I joke that I’m becoming the new Joe Wicks. Sport is a great outlet, whether you are playing or watching, and it’s fantastic to have the opportunity to watch two top international teams at a Twickenham blue ribbon event.”
