Emergency doctor at Ulster Hospital captures in photographs how Covid transformed hospitals

The photo book which has been compiled by Emergency Medicine Doctor, Dr Tuck Goh who works at the Ulster Hospital, captured on camera some precious moments of staff in the South Eastern Trust during the pandemic, doing all that they could to treat and reassure patients in hospitals and in the community.

The result is a moving photo book, entitled ‘Together’, which has gifted to all of the trust staff to say thank you for their dedication, care and compassion, which will never be forgotten.

Dr Goh felt it was vital to document the effect that the Covid-19 pandemic had on his colleagues and the patients who came through the doors of our hospitals, in what was a very uncertain and frightening time.

He said: “Patients were separated from their loved ones due to Covid-19 restrictions. This book documents the isolation that patients experienced while in the Emergency Department and beyond and the strength and courage that staff showed during such a challenging time.

“I hope that this book will stand the test of time. In years to come, looking back at the pictures and the narrative in the book will hopefully remind people of how we got through the pandemic, standing together and supporting those in most need.”

Dr Goh recalled: "One of the first pictures to be taken was of the empty waiting room of the emergency department where I work.

"This was of course highly unusual for a department that had an attendance of 108,000 patients the year before.

"It was mid-March 2020, the beginning of the Covid pandemic in Northern Ireland. It was an anxious moment for those of us working at the front line.

"Was this the calm before the storm? Would the corridors soon be overwhelmed by very ill patients?

"These patients did arrive but fortunately not en masse. But working life changed for all of us.”

He added: “These images in this photobook are reflective snapshots of the experience for staff and patients in the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust during the pandemic.

"Some highlight compassion and care, some show happiness and joy, a few display anxiety and isolation, but most show staff going about their daily tasks with focus and dedication in the way they know best.”

Trust Chief Executive, Roisin Coulter, said: “In March 2020 when people were being urged to stay at home, Trust staff and indeed all Health Service staff in Northern Ireland, courageously prepared to tackle Covid-19, a virus that was killing millions of people across the globe. At that stage, there wasn’t a vaccine to protect staff who were risking their lives to help others.

The care that our staff provided to our patients, service users and clients was outstanding and saved many lives, not just in our hospitals but across the community we serve.”

The book is dedicated to the memory of emergency physician John Gray and radiologist Paul Hanley who died in 2019 and 2020 respectively.