‘Great to see how many people have signed up to NHS volunteers and are supporting vulnerable people in their community’

• You are currently working on an acute medical unit at a hospital in Surrey. Is it hard not being able to see family and friends in Chichester?

Really hard, although we feel quite lucky to still get to work and see our colleagues every day, so we feel far less isolated than everyone else. Luckily we all still feel very connected thanks to technology and things like FaceTime.

• Did you always want to follow a career in medicine?

No! I was relatively late in deciding that I wanted to go to medical school. Right up to being in sixth form at Bishop Luffa School I wanted to be a comic illustrator. But then I realised I might not make a living out of it and had to think again. I was good at science and problem solving and I liked working as part of a team, so the idea of going to medical school came out of that.

• How has the Coronavirus impacted on you and your colleagues?

We have seen a complete restructuring of the hospital to cope with the acuity of patients coming in. Our shift patterns have changed to provide additional cover to the whole hospital, especially during nights and weekends, and staff have been moved to where they are most needed. It’s unlike anything any of us have ever experienced, but the whole workforce has responded incredibly and is constantly adapting to deal with demand. Our resilience as a workforce has never been more important.

• It must be exhausting and at times very worrying for frontline workers. How do you keep yourself ‘up’?

Something you can always rely on is the morale of NHS staff and morale is actually more positive than ever right now. We have had amazing support from our seniors and management and the camaraderie is amazing; everyone is just being unflinchingly fearless. The structure and routine of work is helpful and we are also lucky enough to have huge support from local community, as well as food deliveries to keep us going. Out of work I’m trying to stay busy and distracted by keeping up exercise and trying not to spend too long looking at the news and social media related to Coronavirus.

• How do you feel about the outpouring of love from the public for the NHS?

It’s great and I feel extremely proud to be part of the NHS. I know my grandad in Chichester has been out with his saucepan and wooden spoon!

• What can we do to help you and your colleagues?

It’s great to see how many people have signed up to NHS volunteers and are supporting vulnerable people in their community. The most important thing is to stay at home. It’s not forever and really will make a difference. It really is heart-breaking to see large groups out in the sun when we see the impact that is having first hand.

• Visit www.nhscharitiestogether.co.uk

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