At this unprecedented time in the world, I wanted to write a few words of encouragement, support, praise and thanks. At the time of writing, I am aware that cirumstances and statistics will have changed once the journal has gone to print This is the ‘new normal’ across the globe.
Having worked both as a nurse and midwife within the NHS for 44 years, I thought I had seen and experienced everything that our wonderful health service had to offer: multiple changes in education across professions (oral exams for midwives and the introduction of Project 2000 for nurses, for example), the impact and fear around HIV and AIDS, and the dawn of a new millennium with the fear that the world was going to end at midnight on 31st December 1999. However, never, much like yourselves, have I ever had to approach something with such consequences for whole populations as this current pandemic. Life as we knew it seemed to change overnight and all of us are anxious and worried about our family, friends and children.
We are being asked to do things within our profession that we never thought would happen in order to keep our women, babies and ourselves safe. This only leads to further anxiety as we try to balance risk and safety with caring for the people who most need us and for whom we entered this wonderful profession. As our colleagues are found to be suffering with this virus, we are trying to fill gaps, provide cover and support each other. My service, which is based in the community, has like many more been hit by staff shortages and lack of premises as our rooms in community are either closed or prioritised for other services.
I know too well how hard it is to try and find some down time in the middle of all this as the demands on us don't stop when we come home from work. I urge you to try and take some time each day for yourselves, even if it's just for 30 minutes. Do something that brings you joy: exercise, have a long soak in the bath, watch something funny on TV, or access the numerous relax and unwind apps on the internet which have been provided free of charge to NHS workers. ‘Thank you’ does not seem to cover it at the moment but it is sincerely meant by everyone. In all my years in the NHS, I have never experienced such warmth and gratitude from the public. We should all take that as a positive at this time and accept the applause and appreciation as it is awarded to us.
Please take care, keep safe and healthy, and look forward to the almighty party that will be held in the nation when ‘normal’ returns.