Leeds OBE-awarded consultant takes part in 100-strong Intensive Care Unit Zoom choir group going for Christmas number one to raise money for ICU worker's mental health

A Leeds consultant is one of 100 people in a Zoom choir made up of ICU staff who have released a re-make song in a bid to secure the Christmas number one and raise money for the wellbeing and mental health of ICU staff.
Dr Alison Pittard, Dean of the Faculty of Intensive Care and ICU consultant Leeds Teaching Hospitals (photo: James Hardisty)Dr Alison Pittard, Dean of the Faculty of Intensive Care and ICU consultant Leeds Teaching Hospitals (photo: James Hardisty)
Dr Alison Pittard, Dean of the Faculty of Intensive Care and ICU consultant Leeds Teaching Hospitals (photo: James Hardisty)

The group have released their own version of Police track ‘Every Breath You Take’ to raise funds to support NHS staff recovery from the trials of 2020.

Known as the ICU Liberty Singers, the choir began as an attempt to bring some fun and respite to ICU workers after such a tough year.

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Choir members include Dr Alison Pittard, a Leeds consultant and the Dean of the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine, along with nurses, doctors and allied health professionals who have been working on the frontline this year.

Dr Pittard said: “This has been such a fun way to recognise and thank ICU staff.

“It has been an utterly extraordinary year and I am beyond proud and grateful to all ICU workers for their skill, dedication and professionalism in the face of unprecedented circumstances.

“Marking this in as public a way as possible seemed only appropriate.”

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Dr Pittard was awarded an OBE for services to critical care earlier this year and having spearheaded the direction of the NHS' intensive care teams, she became the nation's public face for the specialism in the pandemic and hailed as a great leader.

On the basis that music and singing are relaxing for the mind, Choir Director Kari Olsen Porthouse contacted Dr Pittard and offered to run a pop up choir with four singing sessions and a remote recording of one of the songs.

Kari said: “Singing is immensely powerful for helping establish and maintain good mental health but something really special happens when we sing together and the effect is even more powerful.

“There is a sense of belonging, and a sense of a team working to deliver something beautiful.

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“That perfectly captures the strength and teamwork of ICU staff this year and the chance to give them something back and recognise their phenomenal efforts is a privilege”.

The 100-strong choir includes ICU staff from every region who ‘met’ for the first time on Zoom on November 25 for an hour of hilarity and singing a range of songs.

Since then, legal permission was granted by SONY ATV, which owns the rights to Every Breath You Take (I’ll Be Watching You) and the group were given the opportunity to release the song.

The Choir had a second group rehearsal and then used videos of Kari conducting each part so they could practise in private, between rehearsals, and sometimes even during their breaks on shift.

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The track comprises 223 individual vocal recordings sung by the choir members recorded in their own homes and then blended to create a ‘virtual choir’.

The single is being released today (December 18) and is available for download and streaming through the usual channels.

Jackie Shears, from NHS Digital, and a member of one of Kari’s other choirs, heard about the choir and penned a re-worded version of the Police hit ‘Every Breath You Take’ to express the extraordinary contribution of ICU workers across the country this year and to encourage the public to continue taking recommended precautions to help prevent more demand on ICU’s.

Jackie 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.

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“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.”

The group are planning to take on Liam Gallagher, Jess Glynne and Robbie Williams in a bid for the top Christmas number one spot.

All money raised will go to create a fund, managed through the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine, to provide support for staff that they feel will have a positive impact on their Wellbeing and Mental health after an extraordinarily impactful year.

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