The Covid Chronicles: developing a departmental newsletter to relay pertinent information and boost morale

As the COVID-19 pandemic swept the world, there was a scramble to release guidance amidst a rapidly evolving situation As our understanding grew, recommendations continued to be modified We were bombarded with emails and alerts on a daily, sometimes hourly, basis This fostered 'guidance fatigue', frustration and confusion amongst colleagues There were concerns in the department that vital, relevant details may be missed within this surge of information release, potentially impacting on both clinician and patient safety Moreover, there was uncertainty and anxiety surrounding changes in working patterns, training and wellbeing Our aims were to create a means to summarise relevant up to date information, inform staff of the ongoing impact of cases within Altnagelvin intensive care unit (ICU) and boost morale Methods A single-page departmental newsletter, The Covid Chronicles, was created, which was to be released twice a week It would contain a summary of any policies and guidelines released from the department, Trust or national bodies over the preceding days It would provide an update on ICU case numbers and ventilation status Any relevant departmental news (e g , new appointments, surge plans) would be included There would be a section on morale and wellbeing, which could comprise of riddles, emoji quizzes, prizes, NHS discount codes and baking recipes Links to further reading would also be supplied Feedback would be collected by means of a qualitative questionnaire Results The newsletter was circulated twice a week for 4 weeks before a survey was released and completed by 35 respondents Data showed they had been receiving information from over seven sources, causing difficulty in keeping abreast of the changing situation The vast majority (>90%) agreed that the newsletter was a useful summary that was quick, easy to read and an appropriate length There was engagement with quizzes, riddles and prizes Feedback was overwhelmingly positive;the various sections were well received and there was widespread agreement (>90%) to continue the newsletter in the future Discussion We demonstrate the development of a departmental newsletter that presented a focused, pragmatic summary of information around COVID-19 The inclusion of more light-hearted sections fostered comradery and encouraged engagement We plan to continue this project in the future As we emerge from the pandemic and adapt to a 'new normal', as will this newsletter and the material it contains