Common Thread is a collaborative documentary filmmaking project, giving NHS Lothian staff a voice to engagingly and creatively tell their 2020 Covid stories.

A series of nine short films were created by staff from a wide range of disciplines and departments. Their stories are unique; some are funny, some are sad, and some are truly inspirational. From an Oncology Nurse’s reflective journey cycling home, to an Intensive Care team’s ways of using music and dance to de-stress, to an insight into the COVID-19 vaccine trials, these films present a unique staff perspective into the Coronavirus pandemic outbreak.

The Common Thread project provided staff, most of whom had no experience in creative storytelling and filmmaking, with a rare opportunity to voice their experiences, learn new creative skills, increase team moral and process what they were facing by sharing their hopes and fears.

For many NHS staff the months they spent dealing with COVID generated a whirlwind of emotions. The collaborative creative process was a tool for positive change, allowing participants to pause, reflect and reveal in their own words how lockdown changed them not just professionally, but personally too.

Following an open invite to all 27,000 NHS Lothian staff to take part in sharing their stories, PoliFilm Media filmmaker Tomás Sheridan worked with interested staff to create short films on mobile phones, tablets and laptops. Following social distancing, workshops were delivered remotely, with Tomás regularly providing support to participants to collaboratively develop ideas, structure their narratives and find creative solutions; helping them tell their stories in the most impactful way.

The level of commitment and involvement from everyone throughout the process was remarkable, especially given the pressures they were under. Participants found the process of telling their stories through film both therapeutic and energising. Rita Rigg, a General Practitioner working in the COVID Triage Hub, shared the poignant story of the diary she kept during her COVID-19 convalescence:

Being involved in the Common Thread project and working alongside Tomás was a refreshing, revealing experience – something I had never done before. It has been an honour to share my story!”

The films were launched via an online screening event and Q&A with participants to an audience of staff, participants and partners, before being shared through press, newsletters, social media and NHS Lothian networks. Wider public screenings are planned, including outdoor projected screenings at hospital sites.

Common Thread showcases and celebrates the skills, dedication and creativity of a diverse and committed staff. It has provided participants with a vehicle to help colleagues, friends, family and the wider public understand the challenges and pressures of NHS working lives during one of the biggest global health crises of our lifetime; with one commenting:

I loved watching these, seeing so many different things that people had been doing and the challenges they faced. The videos were really well presented and told the stories exceptionally well. Thank you for all the hard work put into making such a difference to so many staff and patients.”

I’ve really enjoyed learning about filmmaking, working with Tommy and getting a chance to discuss the work I do with the Clinical Trials team that is usually hidden away behind the scenes. It’s been so important to find an effective vaccine, it usually it takes years before we see the results of clinical trials but the fact that we already have results shows how well the research community has collaborated. As well as an amazing film, I’ve learned loads, had the opportunity to reflect and really enjoyed the process.”

Ruaridh Buchan

Being involved in the Common Thread project and working alongside Tomás Sheridan was a refreshing, revealing experience – something I had never done before. It has been an honour, albeit a quite scary one, to share my story! This project has had the most amazing feedback and warm comments from people near and far afield. Thank you for facilitating this and for being encouraging, supportive, gentle and kind.”

Rita Rigg

Thank you for this opportunity – it gave us the chance to have a collective voice when we could not be together in person.”

Christine Strange

I loved watching the videos of the various staff stories from during Covid. It was great to see so many different things that people had been doing and the challenges they faced. The videos were really well presented and told the stories exceptionally well. Thank you for all the hard work put into making such a difference to so many staff and patients.”

Ruth Ropper

Such an honest open account, how professional crosses over into personal.”

Anne Gilchrist

With thanks to Polifilm Media.