NHS workers - how are you?

[Pomegranatepompom]

We're preparing, it's already very stressful. We're happy to do all we can, but being called to work in any area, the additional training plus continuing normal workload, already feels overwhelming.

I'll be commuting into London - there was a child with a persistent cough on my train yesterday - I can't believe people are being so selfish. I'm scared of getting symptoms, don't want to leave my team short, that's very stressful in itself of course.

People are are scared and taking frustrations out on my team already (as we don't have the answers, to be fair no-one does).

I love the NHS, proud to work in it. I wonder if this will lead to people leaving though once the crisis is over, we've had years of pay freeze (cuts), being short staffed etc but we are expected to step up with little support and preparation. I know we will step up, we always do.

I'm planning to semi isolate when not at work, to try and limit my exposure so I can keep working, but I also need to condor my DC and what I will do when schools close.

We had 7 patients by the end of Saturday. I popped into work to collect something and my colleagues were sat on their bums. Elective surgery has been cancelled so we are really quiet. I think they've cancelled to early.

paediatric ward in large children's hospital.

Yes we've cancelled elective surgery too, I'm hoping that will keep staffing going for a while!

We are going to have nothing to do! We can't be re deployed to adults as we aren't dual trained.

We had an awful Monday. I worked 3 hours over.
Yes, I wonder what will happen, we've been told we have to cover any area.

I’ve been off the last two days, one was study from home as the library at the hospital was closed and the other was annual leave. Not sure what I’ll be going into tomorrow, quite apprehensive. We have some cases in our hospital, but not enough PPE for everyone and we’re frontline as we accept patients directly from ambulances (I work in cardiac cath labs), been told if a patient has suspected or confirmed coronavirus we have to accept and treat them, yet only 6 of us have been fit tested so far (after our manager’s insistence and lengthy argument with the infection prevention team) and they might not even be on shift when the patient comes in.

I used to be a fit tester, but I don't think anyone has been done this time. We only have one side room though and we don't take respiratory unless it's bronc season.

Awful day and turning point for us, all routine clinics cancelled, emergencies only.
I worked two hours over shift catching up with all the extra paperwork. Someone thought this would be a great time for us to do a time and motion study - during a pandemic "slow handclap" and it's taking me ages to fill in everyday.
I'll be out of here and on the front line on the wards by the end of the month, I'm dual qualified. I've already been asked.
I think it's all going tits up from now.

Sent to work from home but working on a new non clinical project that no one cares about now. Feel so useless watching all my colleagues suffer, but I guess I can’t do anything at all right now. They need a plan for non clinical staff who are willing to do anything to help. We must be able to do something?

I’m off this week but due back Monday. I work in imaging, pretty sure all covid19 patients will need us

I'm a senior sister in a big ED, its bloody horrendous. I feel as though we are making it up and just hoping for the best....

A preemptive thank you for all that you are about to face. Without determined and dedicated NHS staff we would all be properly screwed.

I'm in primary care psychology so a clinician but not medical. Have had to be a voice of reason and reassurance to many highly anxious people, not just clients but staff too.

It's likely we'll be deployed to the wards at some point, most likely psych inpatients. I'm not trained in restraints or giving depos but will make tea and clean and generally do what I can to be helpful.

I know the senior A&E sister in the area where I work, they've set up a separate covid A&E in what's usually the private suite, regular A&E is apparently dead and people are turning up to the new one with a cough and being politely told to piss of home. No chaos just yet!

I’m in the community. We are continuing as normal, plus having to do additional admin tasks on top in preparation. I feel overwhelmed. Fairly certain I will be redeployed eventually and that worries me. I have asthma but they only seem interested if it’s brittle, so I feel very vulnerable too (especially as I am a lone parent).

I work in admin/secretarial. Not sure what will happen to us if or when my department winds down. Very worried I will get re-deployed to a ward or something, which feel very selfish to say when so many of you are front line. The uncertainty is making me quite stressy.

Tired. Depressed. Frightened. We are a 12 bedded unit that's been running at 30 for the last two years, without covid-19. We have four coronary care beds and also monitor telemetry for the entire hospital. We have had no extra staff to match the extra patients and everyone is already at the end of their rope. The PPE we have been allocated for the whole ward fits in a shoe box, we've had no training no guidance beyond "ring 111" (yes really). I'm scared for my patients, my family, my colleagues and myself.

Fine thank you!

I'm a community OT. I'm so very worried that I'm going to pass on the virus to one of my clients who are all vulnerable. Some but not all of our visits have been cancelled. A client asked me today if I have the virus and I had to say "I honestly don't know" because they won't bloody test us.

I'm also worried about my family. Being office that is crammed with people who have pretty much all commuted to work on the tube, has to be a hotbed. We have no hand sanitiser either.

My experience pales into insignificance compared to those of you in A&E though

Sorry it’s so stressful - good luck today everyone.

Midwife here. I am angry about the lack of PPE and testing. We are just left to make it up as we go. We also had advice from our trust about self isolating which contradicted govt advice but they have relented and changed it

I think they have cancelled to soon in more rural areas. London is way ahead of us in terms of the coronavirus. There are no cases at our hospital. Staff are going to have nothing to do and it will be so drawn out.
I have already heard they are clamping down on staff sickness saying staff are only allowed one episode of self isolation . So if you call it wrong the first time because of a cold or cough you will be penalised. I have five people in my household, 3 under 6. Coughs and colds are inevitable. I’ve already heard staff muttering about people that are isolating “just coz their son has a cold”.

My trust is being supportive but there is a lack of PPE. They’ve been very clear we’ll be working anywhere which is very stressful as I already have my own caseload to juggle as well.

We're out of surgical masks and those for arosol cases,almost out of eye protection.
We've lost a lot of staff as those with serious and underlying condition have gone home.

Pregnant admin worker here but based in outpatients area so plenty of coming and going of people. No clear guidance from Occy Health or Exec team as to what our options are but my pre-existing anxiety is through the roof. Meds not really an option but ironically will struggle to be at work without them.

Could WFH but no equipment. Not sure what will happen now as I wouldn’t care about being exposed if I was pregnant. Such a worrying time

Wasn’t pregnant*