Bedside sign to share information about a hospital patient's life

Blank laminated sign designed to be displayed next to a patient's bed for staff to find out more about them, including what they like to be called, things they like, their faith, their family, their occupation and any other things about them, shows an image of a nightingale with a rainbow wing and a NHS badge and the words NHS Nightingale, designed by Madeleine Floyd and a speech bubble with 'what matters to you', part of the 'All about me' which was displayed in each bed space including photographs, information collected by Family Support and Liaison Team at NHS Nightingale Hospital London, unknown maker, 2020

During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, visiting loved ones in hospital was severely restricted as the country went into lockdown. Without meeting family or friends in person, staff had few opportunities to learn more about the people in their care. Filled in for patients via the Family Liaison and Support Teams this chart was put next to people’s beds alongside photos. It includes information about a person’s family, their job, their faith, and what they liked to be called. This poster is part of the What Matters To You campaign - an international movement to put people and their preferences at the centre of care.

With its rainbow coloured wing and NHS badge, this illustrated nightingale by artist Madeleine Floyd wasadopted as the symbol of the NHS Nightingale Hospital London. Opened virtually by Prince Charles on 3 April 2020, the hospital had capacity for 4000 beds in wards named after historic figures from British medical history. The ExCel Centre was the first of seven Nightingale hospitals to be opened after concerns over the ability of the National Health Service to cope with high numbers of people requiring treatment during the first wave of COVID-19. Drawing on the expertise of creating military field hospitals, NHS Nightingale London, the size of ten football pitches, was fitted out in just nine days. Staff were drawn from across NHS England and the armed services for their expertise including critical care, physiotherapy, security, and Family Liaison and Support Teams. Volunteers from St John Ambulance and air crew from Virgin Atlantic and Easyjet helped with way finding and assisting staff.

Only a small proportion of beds were ever used as NHS Trusts could not release staff. Existing hospitals transformed spaces into critical care wards. The NHS Nightingale London Hospital closed on Nurses Day on 12 May 2020 with 700 people debriefed at the 02. In January 2021, it reopened to treat non-coronavirus patients after being on standby since May 2020. Between 11 January 2021 and 25 June 2021, it was a mass vaccination centre, delivering 130,000 jabs. For both uses it was overseen by Barts Health Trust. Described by the NHS as the “ultimate insurance policy”, some questioned the £500 million cost of building and maintaining the seven sites.