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Original poster

NHS working with Coid-19

26 replies

catwithnohat · 02/04/2020 08:39

A phrase on BBC breakfast was NHS "people working round the clock"

Are they - are people working different shifts or hours over and above what they're usually contracted and specifically working on Covid-19 and where ?

Not meant to be goady as I got a call telling me my condition's 6-monthly checkup was still going ahead - by phone though - so the question is are people really working flat out more than say this time last year.

OP posts:
TeaSoakedDisasterMagnet · 02/04/2020 08:48

The teams dealing with Covid 19 patients are, yes. As are many wards who have had more patients moved to them to free up areas for Covid 19 patients.

BryanAdamsLeftAnkle · 02/04/2020 08:50

Yup. Im working many additional shifts. I did 9 in a row as staff shortage due to sickness and or isolation.

So yes us folk working with covid are definitely round the clock

Original poster
catwithnohat · 02/04/2020 08:52

Bryans where are you located (generally)

Is there a sense of not being able to cope?

OP posts:

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Covid-19
Caucasianchalkcircles · 02/04/2020 09:26

To be fair, on our unit people are snapping up overtime due to partners not working at the moment. There's sickness to cover but also because of isolation practices due to covid we are having extra staff on shift to act as runners, draw up infusions.

Seventytwoseventythree · 02/04/2020 09:31

Yes (hospital doctor here) lots of staff off sick or isolating, so we’re covering for our colleagues as well as now needing staff the Covid wards in addition to our usual wards (which have far few people
In them now granted), our previous rotas have gone out the window and annual leave cancelled. Lots more long 12 hr shifts vs. 8 hr. Consultant rotas entirely rewritten to provide more senior coverage at night and at the weekend. Lots of us being redeployed to ITU which requires a new geographical location and rota as well as retraining. My hospital is coping but busy at the moment but I am worried for how it will be in a few weeks time.

NewYearNewJob123 · 02/04/2020 09:31

Depends where you work and what you do. And even in hospitals with a lot of COVID cases, it isn't solely due to the number of those cases, its the additional pressure of reduced staffing due to self-isolating.

HoneysuckIejasmine · 02/04/2020 09:35

Yes. Friend who is a lone parent has done 6x13hrs in last 7 days. Working on a non CV ward that's lost a lot of its staff to the CV wards.

BillyN0Mates · 02/04/2020 09:49

Community OT here. Now doing overtime, weekends and late shifts to cover patients being discharged from acute hospital.

BryanAdamsLeftAnkle · 02/04/2020 10:00

@catwithnohat im in Scotland.

Im newly qualified and not really what, i wanted as my first job... Like ots not hard enough finding your feet eh 😂.

Im doing 4 shifts a week when i normally work 3. But working lost and lost of overtime to cover shifts. Cancelling my own annual leave because i cant go anywhere

BillyN0Mates · 02/04/2020 10:06

Yes I've cancelled annual leave. Kids will go to school next week (they're thrilled)

Calyx72 · 02/04/2020 10:17

Yes. Normally work weekdays day shift only (Community AHP) but now back, evening shifts to include personal care/meals as social care is decimated and we are rota'd for weekends as well. Stressful and not allowed to wear masks unless covid symptoms reported as not enough. Close quarters in folks home. Scotland.

Calyx72 · 02/04/2020 10:18

Sorry not 'specifically working with covid19' but some will be. It is because of covid19 though

BillyN0Mates · 02/04/2020 13:46

We've just been told to wear PPE with all patients for every visit. The guidance has changed today for us.

Terralee · 02/04/2020 16:28

I'm frontline nhs sometimes work with covid patients.
I'm part time & not been asked to work overtime or to cancel annual leave as I have my own chronic health problems that get worse if I get too tired, & obviously they (and I) don't want me to get poorly with those conditions again & go off sick.
I feel guilty but I do work hard when I am at work, what else can I do?

littlemissalwaystired · 03/04/2020 01:35

NHS frontline and I worked 10 days in a row, had one day off, then back to it. No rest for the wicked.

wafflyversatile · 03/04/2020 01:41

So I think the answer to your question is yes, yes they are.

Were you under the impression that they are doing your appointment by phone to free them up to go play on the swings?

caringcarer · 03/04/2020 02:07

Everyone appreciates all you do. Thank you for working so hard.

AgathaMystery · 03/04/2020 02:19

Yes. I am working 9,10 day stretches. In fact today I managed to ask for a day off in the middle of a bonkers run of shifts.

We have almost no staff available.

We have gone from 40 off doctors to 12.

I know it doesn't sound a lot of shifts in a row but think how you feel on a Friday evening knowing you have some down time. I am in high risk areas so wear full PPE (that we reuse). Wearing it is like being buried alive. I hate it.

This virus is the most awful thing I've seen since H1N1.

dragonicicle · 03/04/2020 02:25

Yes everything has changed. We've gone onto an emergency rota where as doctors we are permanently on call. So we do 12 hours shifts rotating between days and nights and there are a much greater number of patients rather than our usual working days when I'd generally just cover my surgical team rather than every single surgical patient in the hospital. It is exceptional and our jobs have completely changed because of this. It's like nothing we've ever seen before.

Whatevah · 03/04/2020 05:49

They say there is an exception to every rule and appears I’m it.
I’m NHS and every time I hear people talking about the NHS at the min I blush. Definitely not overworked. I work in theatre area, in specific unit. It is now closed. We are working in main theatre recovery instead, moving to extended ICU once needed, so will be very much front line. But at the minute due to reduced theatre lists we are falling over each other.
Also they closed areas in smaller local hospitals and sent the staff up to us. 15 nurses will maybe rush to do a patients BP. Great week to be sick you’ll be fussed over 24/7Grin
Calm before the storm apparently.
Also usually work weekdays, now do either day shift (7.30/8.30) or a night duty (8-8). No one has been asked to work extra or not take A/L. I’ve offered to work extra but hardly anyone off sick or isolating.
The wards appear very quiet too. In fact the hospital is eerily quiet. Only 4 covid 19 patients in ICU last I heard.
DH works from home and kids older so no issues there.
Let’s see what happens next week.

wafflyversatile · 03/04/2020 09:37

Good luck for the coming weeks.

Original poster
catwithnohat · 03/04/2020 09:38

@waffly Do go and do one - if you can't find anything useful to say then shut the fuck up. Your comment brought nothing to the party.

OP posts:
Original poster
catwithnohat · 03/04/2020 09:40

whatevah and everyone else.

Thankyou for all your efforts - now and every other time.

OP posts:
wafflyversatile · 03/04/2020 09:41

Your thread brought what useful thing to 'the party'? Oh wait nothing.

MilleniumHallsWalledGarden · 03/04/2020 14:40

if you can't find anything useful to say then shut the fuck up

Who put you in charge?