Student nurse Tonya Webb
Tonya Webb was a third year Ulster University nursing student when the COVID-19 crisis reached the North of Ireland in March.
Like many she volunteered to finish university early and join the Western Health and Social Care Trust in the fight against the virus.
“We were all terrified, everyone was terrified,” Tonya told BBC Radio Foyle.
“We just didn’t know what we were going into.
“But once you go through those doors, you are there and you step into your role and you do what is best for your patient.”
Tonya has been working in Derry’s Waterside hospital.
Waterside Hospital is a step down facility for patients who had been treated in ICU for COVID-19.
“These people had been in ICU for a number of weeks, they have reduced mobility, we are there to help increase their mobility – it’s a long drawn out process.
“Although we were able to get patients walking with a stick again and getting muscle built up again, we can’t fix the psychological trauma they have experienced in ICU.
“That was a tough part for me”.
Well done to Tonya and all the hospital staff and key workers!
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