SoWhoCaresAnyway E16 Talking Today, Preparing for Tomorrow

In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Harry Bannister, a Specialist Nurse in Organ Donation, Who works for NHS Blood and Transplant. Amongst other things Harry talks about how he guides families through some of the hardest moments of their lives, reflecting on the weight of these conversations, where families are asked to make life-changing decisions while navigating overwhelming grief. 

Harry highlights the importance of fully understanding organ donation and having conversations with loved ones. Preparing for what we hope will never happen, but knowing decisions are best made in advance

Harry explains the emotional labour of his work, describing how specialist nurses must balance clinical precision with deep human empathy. He shares how reading letters from recipients, families whose children or loved ones have regained their lives thanks to a transplant, can be both heart warming and heart breaking. Knowing that organ donation offers hope in tragedy helps sustain him through the difficult moments, but the reality of these discussions never becomes easy. 

The conversation also highlights the psychological weight of working in intensive care, particularly during the Covid pandemic, and the complex feelings of burnout and guilt that many healthcare professionals experience.

This episode explores resilience, grief, and the profound emotional labour of healthcare, offering a raw and honest look at the complexities of working intensive care and organ donation.