A language therapist has told of the new challenges she faced during the pandemic.

Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust speech therapist Dani Ferraris said her role was 'taken to the max' at the peak of the pandemic.

“My role involves helping to wean patients off ventilators, and tracheostomies, assessing their communication, swallowing, and getting them eating and drinking again," she explained.

"I get to be the person to give them their first drink of water after being ventilated.

“My favourite thing about my job in critical care is that I get to give patients a voice, when adding a speaking valve to a tracheostomy. A lot of people don’t realise how involved we are in communication. Often these patients can’t speak, so we find ways for them to communicate.”

Critical care is only half of Dani’s role, she also works with head and neck cancer patients: “During the pandemic, many of these clinics became virtual which made forming patient-therapist relationships more challenging.

“Social distancing can be difficult for people going through treatments like chemo, so keeping in contact and being a support network for my patients was important," Dani added.

“I remember doing mouth care for one gentleman who was about to die, before his family came to say goodbye. It really affected me as it was a small thing, but the last that would be done for him. As therapists, we’re used to helping people live more independently, so it was very hard for me.”