Pressure on frontline NHS staff

[addictedtotheflats]

Im a senior nurse in an a&e department in a Tier 2 area and its SO busy. I’ve been so resilient and positive (mentally not covid) but I think its getting a bit much now. Im sick of see posts in the media about how hospitals are empty and NHS workers are basically dossing. A&e is constantly full, we have 25+ covid patients waiting for beds upto 18 hours who we are expected to care for on top of 60+ other patients. This wave is different to the last one, people werent coming in for minor ailments in april-june but now people arent scared, we are the easy option for people to get seen by a doctor on the same day. Symptomatic patients lining the corridors because we have no more isolation space, staff going off for 2 weeks either positive or exposed in the household, I just feel like its beyond unsustainable, my team all work so hard 24/7. I’m not sure what I want from this post, just finished a hideous 13 hour shift, half of which felt unsafe because of acuity, high attendances and staffing pressures. Anyone else in the same situation?

I usually work in the NHS/Education although not as front line as you. I’ve gone and got myself back into an education role as the NHS is an absolute shit storm at the minute. Now education sure isn’t a bed of roses but the NHS is in utter chaos. I feel horrifically sorry for nurses right now. I worked in it briefly in September and ran.... fast.

I don’t know what the answer is but take care

I don’t know what to say op except thank you 💐 I couldn’t do what you do.

Thank you. There was such emphasis on "protect the NHS" when all this started and it has now well and truly been forgotten about.

I agree, our hospital is filling up too. We’ve 2 entire wards dedicated to Covid now plus an additional ITU but that means essentially two less wards than usual but with more patients than usual.

@RitaEllen, same but we now have 6 covid wards across two hospitals, and STILL at full capacity. As a nurse with 10 years experience I dread to think what pressure newly qualified nurses are feeling. I need a proper blow out but I can't even do that for the forseeable future!!

I echo your thoughts addicted. I am ward sister of a respiratory ward. We have gone from having 1-2 swab positive patients to the whole ward being covid in 4 days. The speed has scared me.
The hospital have expanded covid onto other wards and I feel like we are back in March again. I'm not sure I can do it again.
From next week we will be in full PPE eg gowns FFP3, which is exhausting over long shifts and such a barrier to communication with patients and colleagues.
I am in a medium risk area Tier 1, and from how things look we are in for a very rough ride unless tough restrictions are put in place soon.
I came home yesterday exhausted and overwhelmed from the 'flood' of positive patients, its awful seeing how unwell they are. We are seeing more deaths and the number of patients on high flow oxygen and non invasive ventilation increasing.
I'm going to try and learn some relaxation techniques as felt in a blind state of panic yesterday as the sheer scale of what we are facing.
Feel free to message as we have seem to have very similar experiences. Try a have a treat the destress when you can, even a bath and some calm music helps me. Sending you best wishes OP

@Nizzle thank you, I know I'm not the only one in this situation and very aware respiratory wards along with medical are facing the most difficult times. Our AGP room has gone from being used once, maybe twice a shift for Bipap/Cpap to being full most of the day, along with 10+ patients in a "hot resus" when there are only 5 cubicles - no more staff, we just crack on. Hope everything goes ok for you over the next few months

Really hope the gov steps up as it's headed for disaster

I so wish that so many of the idiots on many of the threads on MN who just have to see friends and multiple family members constantly would read this thread.

The posts from those who just have to go on half term breaks because it “will do my family and my mental health the World of good”. Others who will be ignoring any rules at Christmas time and hosting three family groups or even friends totally 10 or more people as “we’ve already been through so much”.

The selfishness of our fellow countrymen and women know no bounds. Their ignorance, selfishness and denial of doing no wrong is utterly staggering.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you are doing and have done. Your jobs are so hard at the best of times. In amongst this awfulness they must feel overwhelming so often. I wish people would repay your selflessness with some of their own. Each and everyone of you my admiration and respect knows no bounds.

Please remember that there are also many people like me who are severely limiting any contact with the rest of society to try and get through this. We are not all ignorant selfish individuals.

Thank you once again and my very best wishes to you all. I pray for your safety.

@friendlycat

I so wish that so many of the idiots on many of the threads on MN who just have to see friends and multiple family members constantly would read this thread.

The posts from those who just have to go on half term breaks because it “will do my family and my mental health the World of good”. Others who will be ignoring any rules at Christmas time and hosting three family groups or even friends totally 10 or more people as “we’ve already been through so much”.

The selfishness of our fellow countrymen and women know no bounds. Their ignorance, selfishness and denial of doing no wrong is utterly staggering.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you are doing and have done. Your jobs are so hard at the best of times. In amongst this awfulness they must feel overwhelming so often. I wish people would repay your selflessness with some of their own. Each and everyone of you my admiration and respect knows no bounds.

Please remember that there are also many people like me who are severely limiting any contact with the rest of society to try and get through this. We are not all ignorant selfish individuals.

Thank you once again and my very best wishes to you all. I pray for your safety.

This.

I'm very grateful to you all.

Thank you, OP, for what you do.

I'm so sorry it's so tough. It sounds so awful and will only get worse. Everyone should read this - all the Covid is only a little cold types, the let it rip so we can get our lives back types, the we don't care about the rules types.

I hope and pray you can get through it OP and all those who so give of your time like this. You're amazing.

This is why shielding must be re-introduced on a voluntary and funded basis immediately to reduce hospital admissions.

The Nightingales should also be readied for use if necessary.

Is it ok for frontline, exhausted NHS staff to go in a half term break to get some rest?

We are going tomorrow. Booked a year ago. The coming shitstorm requires banking of some rest.

People do have reasons for going away.

@Ecosse

This is why shielding must be re-introduced on a voluntary and funded basis immediately to reduce hospital admissions.

The Nightingales should also be readied for use if necessary.

That's about half the NHS staff off work then! Plenty of doctors, nurses, and other HCP are over 45, or have diabetes, or hypertension, or are overweight, or have another high risk condition putting them in the vulnerable group.

No. We should've taken effective containment measures. We still should.

I don't think the general public has any idea how bad it is right now.

Don't be angry if this is a shit idea but could you contact the local TV news or local newspapers about this?

I am also B7 in a tier 2 ED, however I am (thankfully) on maternity leave now. I couldn't do it all again, not sure what options I'd have if not heavily pregnant mind you!
I agree about the minors not attending last time (I'm also an ENP) but this time all areas of the dept are at capacity
I dread to think what winter will bring.

I'm grateful for all you have done to help.

I'm also an NHS frontline staff. Works in Paeds so we have not been as effected by covid + patients but still been working flat out since March

I'm frightened- this time by the attitudes of people more than the virus itself.
.we are in this together. We don't want a second wave and I'm sure you don't

Yes, I am struggling. I cry driving into work everyday. The pressure and stress when on shift is immense but more than that is my worry about my dc, schools are closed again here. We are told it will be reviewed next week as to whether they will reopen after half term. This means that I cannot plan childcare. Not that I could really anyway as we are now receiving our rota just one week in advance and just one weeks worth at a time, due to staff shortages.

I am honestly at breaking point. I don't feel I can do my job properly due to a completely ridiculous workload, I don't feel I can parent properly as I am so exhausted when I get home and really cannot face the thoughts of home school again, fitting it in round my crazy shifts. I am so stressed trying to juggle childcare.

I am horrified at the numbers of positive cases coming through, in my area it is much increased from March and April. The knock on effect is of course larger numbers of my colleagues are testing positive so staffing is at an all time low. We are constantly being begged to work extra shifts and it is hard to refuse when your colleagues are on their knees.

It is shit. My heart goes out to you all.

@SheepandCow

Healthy 45 year olds are not at risk from COVID and you know they aren’t. The key risk factors are certain health conditions and being aged over 75.

Only 28% of shielders work at all- it is not like thousands of ICU nurses will be unable to work through shielding.

It's the same in my tier 2 hospital OP, cases building every day but still full to the brim of other patients, elective surgery, social admissions, none of which we had last time.

I feel panicked and exhausted. Last time we were fuelled by public goodwill and adrenaline but this time I've also got to devote time and energy to petty complaints, disagreements with other clinical teams, audits etc and I just don't know how I am going to do it.

Ecosse, who manages to be on nearly every thread regarding coronovirus & appears to know the ins & outs of every institution dealing with it!

@bumblejee

I am a management consultant by trade so I know very well how different organisations operate.

"I am a management consultant by trade so I know very well how different organisations operate"

Apparently an expert on statistics too? How does all cause mortality for a healthy 45 year old compare to that from covid exactly? How many 45 years old on the the NHS count as health as opposed to those with " underlying health conditions"

what does acuity mean.
is it what i would call acuteness.
something like the severity, sharpness, suddenness of a condition, onset of illness ?

"That's about half the NHS staff off work then! Plenty of doctors, nurses, and other HCP are over 45, or have diabetes, or hypertension, or are overweight, or have another high risk condition putting them in the vulnerable group."

Those people are not the people who were shielding though. So that's an emotive comment.