Dr Best was instrumental in ensuring King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust was able to safely manage the high volume of patients requiring intensive care during the first wave in April 2020.
King’s had among the highest number of acutely unwell patients in the country during the first wave of the virus.
"There is nothing that I've experienced that could compare to this" says Dr Best.
The intensive care consultant recently featured in the Channel 4 documentary, Surviving Covid, which charted the lives of four patients who spent many months in critical care following a Covid diagnosis.
In addition to highlighting the long-term effects of the virus, the documentary also explored the impact of spending prolonged periods in intensive care.
“Some of our most unwell patients spend weeks or even months in critical care while they recover from life-threatening conditions”, says Dr Best.
“We know from feedback that a significant number of patients suffer from delirium as they drift in and out of consciousness, which can be very frightening and can delay recovery.
Filmed in King’s new Critical Care Centre, the documentary showcased many of the features funded by King’s College Hospital Charity to help reduce delirium and anxiety, including floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking nearby Ruskin Park for natural light and fresh breeze.
"What I’m most proud of is being an employee of King’s”, says Dr Best.