Health staff have spoken to schoolchildren about what it has been like working in the NHS during the Covid-19 pandemic.

More than 20 pupils and staff from The Joseph Whitaker School, Rainworth, were joined by 90 children from primary schools and Sherwood Forest Hospitals Trust staff at the Covid reflection event.

It featured talks by Claire Ward, chair of the Board of Directors; Kim Kirk, operations lead for Hospital Covid Vaccination Hub; Donna Mariner, associate director of people (resourcing) and Corinne Kitchen, deputy people wellbeing lead.

They shared their personal experiences of working in an acute hospital trust during the pandemic and reflected on the changes they each made to ensure the trust continued to deliver its services safely to patients, colleagues and visitors.

Teaching assistant Michele Roberts, who organised the event, said: “Putting this together has humbled me to how our young people, as well as adults, have been affected by this global pandemic.

“Students have shared their testimonies and written poetry to reflect on their experiences, and many of them expressed total gratitude and respect for the sacrifices made by the devoted people in our NHS. We are eternally grateful.”

The event was attended by children from The Python Hill Academy and Heathlands, Lake View, and Blidworth Oaks primary schools.

There was a performance by the Joseph Whitaker School Swing Band, and a tree was planted in honour of all those affected by the pandemic. The school plans to create a memory book using photographs captured at the event.

Corinne Kitchen, deputy people wellbeing lead, added: “I feel honoured to have been asked to come and talk about how our family at Sherwood Forest Hospitals learnt from Covid and how we have supported one another, making sure we look after our own wellbeing but also working as a team and showing compassion to others.”

David Ainsworth, director of strategy and partnerships, said: “It is important for the trust to attend events like this as it gives us the opportunity to share our learning with the future generation of NHS workers.”

The event, organised by the school, was funded by Blidworth and Rainworth Fight Against Covid-19 (BARFAC).