The Hadassah UK Purim Campaign supports Hadassah’s Medical Clowns

A MESSAGE FROM DAVID ‘DUSH’ BARASHI – ‘’HAPPY PURIM TO OUR HADASSAH UK SUPPORTERS’’

As Hadassah Hospital’s Head Clown, I am pleased and privileged to provide you, our partners in the Hadassah “Dream Doctor” Clown Project, with this update. I will share with you how our team is meeting the challenge of making our work impactful and relevant during the strange and difficult times we currently face.

”We are proud to say that the Hadassah clown team was the first in Israel and the first globally to be given permission to undertake their daily shifts within the coronavirus wards.”

CLOWNING IN THE AGE OF COVID-19

In the coronavirus wards, patients are separated from those they love and deprived of the everyday comfort of human touch, a warm embrace – even the simple joy of a smiling face. Our clowning ways allow them to put aside – perhaps even just for a short time – the burden of their fears, by reminding them of the love, warmth and simple joys that wait for them beyond the walls of the isolation ward.

COPING IN THE COVID-19 ERA

Hadassah staff including the Hadassah clowns, have been coping over the past seven months, as has the entire world and in particular the medical world, with the enormous COVID-19 challenge.

As early as mid-March when we first confronted the virus we (the Medical Clowns) adopted the new hospital procedures in our special, humorous way in dealing with staff, patients, their families and all other visitors.

We worked in pairs without our usual gear and trappings as we realised very quickly that we had to minimise the risk of infection and contamination. We took on a new role as “hygiene supervisors” using both humour and seriousness. We walked around the hospital departments and wards where we had permission to work and our sudden arrival surprised the departmental staff and in so doing, we greatly contributed to the morale of the hospital staff.

RAISING MORALE ON THE FRONTLINES

We, the four clowns, contributed our positive clown spirit and dynamic presence in every possible way, be it through our theatrical presence in the hospital or by improving the look of our protective gear using humour and encouragement or through proactive zoom sessions with medical teams to raise morale. The clowns played an active and vital role by using every possible avenue for staff as well as for patients with whom we are used to working.

‘’The responses we received from the medical teams touched us deeply and gave us the strength to continue”

One of the important things we recognised was the contribution of humour to gain a positive response by the visiting public to hygiene instructions. Israelis are complex and diverse, but they always like to laugh, and this is an effective way to convey messages.

WE TURNED TESTING INTO A CELEBRATION

At the beginning of May the whole country, we included, realised that this was not a minor pandemic that would quickly pass us by. Hospital management insisted that we undergo the same Coronavirus testing as all the other essential Hadassah staff. Our team of clowns went to the testing centre and even there we turned the testing into a celebration. After a long wait for the results, we all tested Covid-19 negative so we were back to a full work schedule!

Although the number of patients in the wards and the number of visitors to the clinics was more limited, our clown work increased enormously and we found we had to change the work schedule to fit the demand on the ground.

A WORLD FIRST AT HADASSAH

At the beginning of June, while undertaking the new normal clown activity schedule, I made repeated requests to management, to Coronavirus department heads and to the training supervisors of the incoming teams, for me (Dush) to receive training in working with Covid-19 patients. Once approved, I underwent training with the head nurse, Ms. Pnina Sharon, and special PPE training from the nurse in charge of infection prevention, Ms. Carol Selma. With management approval, by the end of all the training I was granted permission to work as a clown in the Coronavirus wards!

”The clown, a strange and colourful character in any environment and certainly in places like a hospital, suddenly faces a new visual challenge – the personal protective uniform of the Coronavirus wards! I made sure of course to keep up my unique look and positive energy.”

Our activities in the wards included: Clown work to raise morale in the command room before going into the wards, putting on protective gear and preparing the clown. At the entrance, visiting patients in the wards, and  raising the morale of the medical staff. Recording videos for family members to encourage them to see their loved ones happy. Bringing toys and personal gifts for the hospitalised children.

In all our activities we act professionally and we stringently adhere to the rules and guidelines in relation to the following:

• Masks, robes, gloves – as required for regular visits and procedures
• Careful hand sanitising when moving from patient to patient Replacing clown clothing after each shift
• Minimal use of accessories – not allowing patients to touch any clown accessory
• Starting a shift in wards such as oncology and bone marrow – in order not to endanger patients
• Working in the Coronavirus wards only in the second half of the day (at the end of a shift so we go straight home and do not continue to wander around the hospital wards or departments)
• Covid-19 tests every two weeks in order not to endanger those around us

A NEW NORMAL

Today the Coronavirus wards are an integral part of the work schedule of the Hadassah Ein Kerem clowns, with visits every two days by a pair of clowns who spend 90-120 minutes in the various Coronavirus wards.

”We believe with all our might that the role of the clown never ends, whether it is in a disaster zone (earthquakes), a war situation (work in bomb shelters), or during a pandemic … the clown is a someone who represents life, solidarity, joy and optimism – and all of these are needed today to deal with the pandemic in an appropriate and healthy way.”

WITHOUT YOU, THERE WOULD BE NO US

We have the privilege to do the work we do, because of the generosity of people like you. The medical clowns, and Hadassah Hospital cannot thank you enough for your loyal support and for giving us the opportunity to turn the fear, anxiety and stress experienced by patients and staff alike, into laughter, smiles, and above all – hope.

To Support Hadassah’s Medical Clowns this Purim, DONATE HERE

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