Major Journalism Project - The Pressures on the NHS and Its Staff.
"So losing somebody, they couldn't always replace them." The hospice staff who had to leave during the pandemic.
By Aimee McKenna
Steering away from the hospitals, hospice staff and volunteers are some of the most important people in the NHS sector.
They are the ones who offer their time to terminally ill patients, often for hours on end to make sure they are comfortable in the time they have left.
Many friends and family will be eternally grateful for what these people do.
Ann Mountford, who used to work at Springhill Hospice in Rochdale, had to give up working as soon as the pandemic hit due to her age and vulnerability.
She had also worked for another nursing service for many years before leaving there.
This is her story at the hospice.
CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT YOUR JOB WITHIN THE NHS HOSPICE, AND HOW LONG YOU WORKED THERE?
"After leaving Oldham district community nursing service I decided I wanted to carry on working so I applied at Springhill Hospice which I worked there for eight years. I started off as a night sitter." She spoke.
"I also took part in the day hospice as well. We offered
patients to come in for the day and gave them tea and toast on arrival to make
them feel comfortable
"They could have their hair done, they could have massages you know, therapy. It was really good for them because they felt that they didn't have to lie about anything because everyone there had a problem. We've had them from the age of 19 up to ladies about 90."
This shows the kind and caring nature of people who work in this sector.
WHAT WERE THE REASONS FOR WHY YOU LEFT, AND DID ANYONE ELSE LEAVE AT THE SAME TIME?
Ann said: "Because of my own personal commitments at home I had to finish permanently to the point where I didn't want to have set hours and do when I wanted and when they needed which suited me but then Covid happened so that put an end to that."
Many places like this have been left understaffed as many who worked there were classed as vulnerable and at risk of catching Covid as they were over 65.
"There were about four other members of staff who were above retirement age but had continued to work for many years, and again, they had to stop the work because they felt vulnerable as well and I know two of them didn't go back to work at all."
Immense pressure was put on the remaining staff to the point where it was harmful to them and their health too, but they didn't have any other choice but to carry on due to this issue.
Hospices only have so much budget for nursing staff as they get funded by the governments health service sector.
"So, losing somebody, they couldn't always replace them so that meant putting pressure on other members of staff to do extra shifts." She said.
This then made those workers more vulnerable and made them feel unwell because they were committing so hard to their job whilst also trying to protect their own family and themselves.
This continues to show the inevitable strain put on the NHS at the start and throughout the pandemic, and it is most likely still affecting them to this day.
The loss of volunteers who generously gave up their own time also greatly impacted places like these.
"The sad thing was, when you are looking back to covid, the likes of hospices have lost a lot of volunteers because a lot of them are retired people so they could not go in. They were so missed.
"Volunteers at the time when I first started all them years ago, the nurse manager was telling me how they saved the hospice £56,000 per year because of all their skills."
The volunteers allowed for the hospice to put money towards other areas which would benefit more from it.
WAS THERE ENOUGH STAFF WORKING WHILST YOU WERE THERE - WAS THERE ANY UNDERSTAFFING BEFORE THE PANDEMIC?
"There was always enough staff on, but could have done with more. The difference from a hospital setting and ward to a hospice ward- when you have got a patient who is terminally ill, you can't rush them, do you know what I mean? So, your time is their time."
Hospices differ to an actual hospital setting as they normally spend more time with their patients.
"You could be with that patient an hour [talking about giving a bed bath] where on a normal hospital ward you do not have that time."
DID YOU EVER EXPERIENCE ANY PROBLEMS WHILST WORKING THERE?
Ann told me that this hospice did not have any problems in terms of abuse towards staff from the patients, which is better news.
However, on the odd occasion, they had slight issues with some visitors.
"We used to have some families, not all, and it tended to be if the patient was a younger person, they had a lot of social friends as well who obviously wanted to be with them as well in their last weeks or months.
"Sometimes it was very hard to make them go home. Sometimes they would bring alcohol which was ok with us but some of them, mostly the friends, would outstay their welcome."
DO YOU EVER MISS IT?
She does miss her role at the hospice greatly, especially those she worked with, and would go back if she was able to.
Despite issues surrounding covid she enjoyed her time there.
"I do miss it- I could go back. And again, I think it is because I decided to retire because of my own commitments but I still had the door open to go back as and when I wanted. I enjoyed the other members of staff; they were more friends than just a work colleague. What you find is [at the hospice] a wide range of people age wise." She spoke.
