An NHS worker’s perspective

[Baggiegirl]

Not sure if anyone will be interested but I thought I’d share some of my thoughts as an NHS worker plus it’s my excuse to vent lol!
Yesterday started well. All contacts changed to telephone triage as much as possible. Patients amazingly understanding on the whole. Then the problems started. 2 members of staff quite correctly self isolating as have symptoms. Then the guidance changes again and a member of staff has to self isolate as a family member is ill.
So day 1 and we’re already 3 staff down. I then realised that our biggest challenge will not be coping with an influx of ill patients but actually keeping the practice operating with few if any staff.
The policy of not testing is not helping!
Anyway we’re having to reduce services further now as we can only do our best with what we’ve got. Take care all

I think the policy not to test NHS workers is absolutely ludicrous. Surely a newly immune NHS worker would be gold dust! Imagine the waste of having frontline workers who might be immune having to self isolate every 5 minutes because they, their husband, their child, picks up a bog standard cough!

NHS staff should be tested. Especially to see if they’ve already had it- is that possible yet? To check for antibodies?

They said at the press conference yesterday that they are goign to start testing all NHS workers.

I did see see that about testing NHS workers but don’t know the details. I’m hoping this extends to admin staff as well as clinical as they are just as vital to running the service.

Thank you to you and your colleagues for all you're doing at this worrying time, in very challenging circumstances.

You are appreciated.
Stay safe.