Heartbeat July 2020

Junior doctor’s children’s book about
lockdown praised by Harry Potter star
A frontline junior doctor has written
a children’s book which helps to
explain lockdown and coronavirus to
youngsters.
Oh! What a Lovely Lockdown! focuses on
the experiences of twins, Lily and Leo, who
are initially told how their plans to have
fun with family and friends, as well as go
on holiday, are cancelled because of the
pandemic. However, their parents refuse to
let this spoil their fun and the family think
of ways they can entertain themselves at
home. It has already been given the thumbs
up by Harry Potter star Oliver Phelps, who
has written the foreword.
Author Vijaytha Murali, aged 27, who
works in AMU at Sandwell Hospital,
explained: “I hope this book will inspire
children and their parents to get in touch
with their creativity. It shows how Lily and
Leo think of ways to have fun at home,
having the space and time to invest in their
creativity and imagination.
“The book is intended to help parents
and children to reflect on what has just
happened. The core message of the book
is that you can create your own joy and
happiness at home, no matter what the
circumstances are. Although it is a children’s
After months of hard work, the Junior
Doctors and Medical Students Common
Room finally opened in July. The new
area, formerly the physiotherapy gym
at City Hospital, boasts comfy sofas,
a kitchenette and two rest rooms,
which each house a reclining chair and
blackout blinds. There are also lockers
and two computers where colleagues
can continue with any work they
need to.
Raffaela Goodby, Director of People and
Organisation Development, attended the
opening alongside the wellbeing and
medical education team who have worked
together with Rita Brown from estates to
bring this project to life.
Sian Shingler, Undergraduate Manager,
said: “The medical students from The
University of Birmingham and Aston
University will be sharing the space with
our junior doctors. This is a huge step
forward in supporting the wellbeing of
both groups, integrating students from two
Dr Vijaytha Murali with the book she has
written
book I do hope it appeals to adult readers
as well.”
As well as being a trainee medic, Vijaytha
has always been a writer. She added:
“Writing is a way that I de-stress, reflect
and process things. I’ve been a creative
writer from a young age, but this is my first
official book.
“There were a couple of things that
inspired me to write it. I heard a lot about
the experiences of children in my family
and how they were coping throughout
lockdown. I have also been involved in
wellbeing initiatives during the pandemic
which made me think a lot more about
universities and developing the relationships
and transition from medical students to junior
doctor trainees. We are pleased that we have
been able to complete the project, especially
during the pandemic.”
CORPORATE AND GENERAL
NEWS
New common room opens for junior
doctors and medical students
Unveiled – new common room for junior
doctors and medical students is officially
opened
what families with young children are
going through.”
Vijaytha, who is a British Medical
Association representative, continued:
“It’s exciting to have this book published
and to see where it goes. The feedback
I’ve received so far is that children love it.
They like the images and the concept of
the story.”
All profits from sales will be going to
the national charity Wellchild. Wellchild
ambassador Oliver Phelps, better known
as George Weasley in the Harry Potter
films, has written about the book: “Oh!
What a Lovely Lockdown! couldn’t
have come at a better time. Vijaytha
has created such a timely, engaging
children’s book that will entertain
children and parents alike and hopefully
help them through these strange times.”
The book costs £6.99 and you
can buy it here: https://www.
amazon.co.uk/What-Lovely-
Lockdown-distancing-adventure/
dp/1910853216.
Raffaela added: “I am so delighted to
have opened the common room. This
has been a long journey over the last
six months involving lots of people,
including our medical education team,
our junior doctor forum chair, our chief
registrar and many other hard-working
people.
“This area offers the opportunity for
our medical students and junior doctors
to use the space flexibly where they can
work together in a socially distanced
way. There are computers set up to
reflect this and, there are also two rest
spaces so that our doctors can rest
overnight. We’ve talked a lot during
COVID-19 and previously before that
about the importance of having rest
either before you drive home or during
a long shift. It’s really important to have
a break, have a hot drink and a rest,
and then go back to your patients and
colleagues refreshed and ready to make
really good decisions. I hope the junior
doctors and students enjoy using it.”
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