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NHS ICU nurses aim for Christmas chart success
NHS Digital’s Jackie Shears has re-penned a classic Police hit for the ICU Liberty Choir, who hope to become this year’s Christmas number one.
Jackie Shears, Programme Director at NHS Digital penned the carefully re-worded version of the Police hit ‘Every Breath You Take’ for the 100-strong Zoom choir made up of ICU staff across multiple NHS trusts from all parts of the UK in a bid to secure the Christmas number one spot and raise funds to support the mental health and wellbeing of NHS intensive care staff.
The ICU Liberty Singers Choir was created as an attempt to bring some fun and respite to ICU workers after such a challenging year. Choir members include ICU staff such as nurses, doctors and allied health professionals who have been working on the frontline of healthcare.
On creating the single, Jackie recently said:
“I really wanted to recognise that while we are all frustrated by the restrictions, ICU staff have had minimal respite since March, have continued to provide high levels of care and professionalism, identifying treatments and working out how best to care for incredibly unwell people.
“The second wave comes at the end of an unprecedented year, without let up – so the song includes a plea on their behalf not to let levels rise further and create any more demand than is necessary.”
Legal permission for the single was granted by SONY ATV, which owns the rights to Every Breath You Take (I’ll Be Watching You) and the opportunity to release the song took shape. The Choir used videos of Director Kari Olsen Porthouse conducting each part so they could practise in private, between rehearsals – and sometimes even during their breaks on shift!
The entire project was delivered from first concept to release within three and a half weeks.
The relentless pace of caring for those most seriously affected by COVID-19 has not changed hugely for ICU staff since the beginning of the pandemic. Now they face going into winter, traditionally hugely challenging in a normal year, with a second wave hitting hard.
The single will be released on 18 December but is now available to pre-order at https://orcd.co/lwnv105.
Pre-order the single here!
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Original article link: https://digital.nhs.uk/news-and-events/news/nhs-icu-nurses-aim-for-christmas-chart-success
