Healthcare professionals form ‘The Rehab Pandemaniacs’ band to raise money for patients
Healthcare professionals at Nottingham University Hospitals who formed a band during the coronavirus pandemic are performing a gig to raise money for patients.
The Rehab Pandemaniacs were created in the middle of lockdown with the aim of putting a smile on people’s faces.
The band, which plays music such as Happy by Pharrell Williams and Rehab by the late Amy Winehouse, is made up of doctors, nurses and therapists who all work in rehabilitation. They help people get better and help them find new ways to do things after a serious injury, illness, and most recently, after having severe COVID-19.
The Rehab Pandemaniacs will be performing – with social distancing measures in place- on 14 July at 2pm and the gig will raise money for Nottingham Hospitals Charity.
The money will be used to buy iPads, speakers and other adaptions to further our efforts to keep patients and families connected.
Dr Phoebe Owen, Registrar in Rehabilitation Medicine, said: “Everyone has been through a tough time, none more so than those patients and their families who have needed hospital treatments but have been separated from their loved ones.
“Our wonderful speech and language therapists know many ways to help this but are limited by the basic resources we have at the moment.
“Please help us to help our patients feel closer to their loved ones during this difficult time of the pandemic.”
The band was formed by Dr Piera Santullo, Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine and she also suggested the band’s name.
The Rehab Pandemaniacs practice together every week and many individuals practice daily in between sessions.
All band members have different experiences of music, from Louise Elphick, Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist, who has only just started playing the harmonica in the last three months to Clare Donnellan, Clinical Lead Physiotherapist, who has not played the trombone for over 30 years
Clare said: “Some of us have been playing our instruments for years but a number of us are brand new to our instruments or have not played for decades.
“We are full of enthusiasm and we have a desire to make a change for good. We have big dreams - to raise lots of money and to perform with Pharrell Williams…
“Your support would mean the world to us. We want to do everything we can to help our patients, especially at this most difficult time. Every penny helps.”
To support the band and to donate to the cause, please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/therehabpandemaniacs
Members of The Rehab Pandemaniacs are:
Dr Piera Santullo, Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine: Band leader and guitar
Dr Phoebe Owen, Registrar in Rehabilitation Medicine: Maestro, keyboards and vocals
Sam Critchley, Senior Physiotherapist: Guitar
Dr Amal Yusof, Foundation Doctor: Cajón
Louise Elphick, Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist: Harmonica and vocals
Kate Johnson, Staff Nurse: Music sticks and vocals
Dr Vina Tesorero, Specialty Doctor: Vocals
Clare Donnellan, Clinical Lead Physiotherapist: Trombone
Sarah Davies, Deputy Sister: Sound engineer.