Teacher helps nurses communicate in sign language to each other while wearing PPE

A Weston primary school Higher Level Teaching Assistant is helping a Bristol hospital staff to communicate through sign language to each other whilst wearing PPE.

Joy Grimsby of Castle Batch Primary School Academy in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset is helping nurses at Nightingale Hospital in Bristol, and her expertise Makaton sign language poster will now be next to every patients’ bed.

Nursing staff found they cannot communicate when wearing PPE so needed a way to communicate to each other through sign language – so they turned to Joy.

Joy, who is also a Regional Makaton Tutor to help with Makaton sign language, has also given her training video to be used by staff.

Joy said: “I’m buzzing thinking of all these amazing people who will be using my training video to be able to communicate when working so hard at the hospital.

“Staff have found they cannot communicate when wearing PPE so need a way to communicate through sign. 

“I was asked to help with the signs, and was asked for a poster. Now every bed at the hospital will have the poster laminated next to it. 

“I also offered them a ‘training video’ to help, which they were ecstatic about.”

Lisa Dadds of The Priory Learning Trust which oversees Castle Batch said: “Our schools are excited to be helping out with the NHS as this challenging time. We are delighted that Joy has been able to offer her amazing skills for such a brilliant cause.”

See the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWk5zGPc-Yw&feature=youtu.be