WARRIORS Women captain Lyndsay O’Donnell is among those NHS frontline workers risking their own life to save and care for patients affected by the deadly disease.
As people continue to stay home and do their bit to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, the Stirling-born second-row is a chartered physiotherapist at Worcestershire Royal Hospital where she helps identify COVID-19 patients who need extra help breathing.
Delivering a range of rehabilitation treatments, Lyndsay also has the job of assisting patients in order to clear the airways of secretions, further underlining the crucial role she plays in the fight against the virus.
“I am currently working on a testing ward for COVID-19 patients, with those patients who are suspected of having the virus remaining on our ward until their swab results come back,” said the 26-year-old.
“My day begins with the nurses giving me information as to who needs physio for mobility, and who needs physio for their chest, including how much oxygen each patient is on.
“From there, myself and the other physios will go around the ward to see our patients as we look to deliver rehabilitation techniques as well as maintaining their strength and function as well as completing chest physio where needed.
“A lot of people who come into hospital suspected of having Coronavirus are either deconditioned or have lost significant strength and are not able to move as they normally would.
Working five days a week as well as some weekends, Lyndsay said id was calling she is more than happy to respond to despite the all too obvious risks posed the moment she steps foot on the ward.
She said: “When I was asked to work on the ward, my first reaction was to get stuck in. I love my job, I love what I do, and I love the effect that I can have in terms of optimising a patients’ quality of life.
“There has always been a natural instinct for me to want to help people and I think of myself as being selfless and helping people whether that be my grandparents of volunteering with the Girl Guides, which I do.
Like the experts, Lyndsay is learning about COVID-19 with every shift she embarks on, something which the Scotland international is relishing.
“I love learning and I still read my textbooks even now, which is very important for my development as I work towards going on the on-call rota,” she added.
“There is always new information coming out regarding COVID-19 and it’s important to try and stay on top of that, whilst also learning and upskilling as I always do.
Earlier this month, Warriors Women were successful in maintaining their Tyrrells Premier 15s status, with Jo Yapp’s side invited to join the next three-year league structure of the women’s top-flight showpiece.
Lyndsay first heard the news following a long day at work and said: “It was such good news to come home to and I was probably one of the last players to see the news.
“A lot of work has gone into the women’s set-up both on and off the pitch and we can be very proud of where we are at the moment. The hard work continues as we get ready for the new season, whenever that might be.
