I shared my experience, in the hope that it might help change some people’s perceptions on the severity of the situation for NHS staff right now, and in the hope people will stick to the rules.
I worked in 2 hospitals for the same trust, on wards with Covid patients, assisting with personal care, helping to dress patients, assist them with meals, mobiles to the toilet, help rehabilitate them back into the community, or care homes.
As a HCA we also assist the doctors and nurses, with patient observations, taking bloods, monitoring blood sugar levels, dressings, 2, and 4, hourly pressure care to protect patients skin integrity.
I have always enjoyed working with people, in the past, in customer service call centres, or as a special needs support worker, I was actually inspired by a Nurse who took care of me after I had lung surgery (coincidently at one of the hospitals I worked at) it was her care and compassion that lead me into a role in the NHS.
High profile Covid deniers, anti-maskers (who are not genuinely exempt, and just refuse to wear a mask) make me angry, posting dangerous views promoting others to go out and flout the rules is deplorable, after almost a full year of a pandemic, people are fragile, and more susceptible to be influenced by these people.
And witnessing a story on the news recently, people storming into hospitals, without prior permission, no PPE, giving abuse to highly trained medics, insulting their professional integrity & scaring patients, and staff, is infuriating.
Attempting to remove a patient who clearly needs to be in hospital, as they are seriously unwell with Covid, because you think it’s one big giant scam is worrying.
You start your shift not knowing some of these patients, and throughout the course of your shift, try to strike up a friendship and a rapport with them, learning about their lives and their families. And within that same shift those patients sadly die, it's incredibly difficult to process those loss, each and every day, hardly any time in between to process your emotions, before your back at work, for the next shift meeting new poorly patients. There have been many patients who we have been lucky to be able to clap and cheer for, as they are discharged after beating Covid, which is also very emotional, but so nice to see.
Once I have got myself sorted, I want to help others with mental health issues, mental health services are so understandably stretched right now, and it's so important that we make conversations about mental health less awkward or uncomfortable, as the more comfortable people feel talking about their mental health issues, the less stigma there will be, and people will be more inclined to reach out.
Personally, I just reached a point, where my own mental health was becoming so affected working with Covid patients, that I had to make the tough decision and put my own health first. Some people will understand that, some have and will call me selfish and a coward, but I ask them to walk a mile in my shoes, and to actually imagine what it’s like working day in, day out, on the frontline. People have said I should just be grateful to have a job, and I always have been grateful & felt privileged to work for the NHS, but we all have limits. And sadly, I reached mine.
Seeing our Prime minister announce a death toll of 100k was a very sad day for us all, and NHS staff feel anger towards our Government for their failings in their handling of the pandemic, such as late lock downs, PPE, testing, wasted money on an app, confusing rules. Also having to witness members or our Government, namely those who are making these rules, break them, and not face consequences, has been a kick in the teeth for us all. They need to accept responsibility for those failings.