the many names brief or not at all. Each time the entry onto the wards on a unit in a Trust Hospital brings many happenings... in the 280 of those who volunteer at any one recruitment time.
The massive learning curve anew in a different outlook. The brief all consuming intimate time when ones needs is reliant on others. The perkier patients or those confused. The cheeky or the passive. The grumbling and rumblings of those expecting a hotel service. This is outweighed far by the appreciation of not just the professionals. There are many patients or visitors who realise the hot sweaty conditions of those staff within a hospital getting food served and plated up.
The many ways of even how the drinks are prepared and served. The finding a niche in the objectives. At least some cups, mugs or beakers are enjoyed by some. It is getting round 30 patients the workmen at work on empty bays behind shrouds of plastic, police, relatives and friends without the tea getting stewed, or the hot water getting cooler, or milk getting warm a challenge in itself ... The many requests like a waiter for individual requests when someone approaches them with these beverages. The observational skills of bed adjusting. The pillows pumped up, a pack of wet wipes opened. Enough fluids for some patients or NBM and all the signs in between.
The washing of hands dealing with the array of requests that require immediate attention, before pouring the next drink, the requests left at the end of a round for other enquiries...
Indeed the niche for like a day past earlier in the week. The patient bedside tables cleared as promptly when the meals are finished before the next rounds. ... it was chaotic which often it can be the case with staff shortages... etc. etc. etc.
The going in earlier next week to get things tidied up, getting it spic and span as is humanly possible when a ward kitchen is multi used. In those times that happen in the rare intervals of lull., rewash, find where the clean cloths are, the array of wipes, gloves, those now required plastic barriers. The plastic green apron when serving food a example of the required requisite ... The different colours in these plastic barriers ...
The rigour and rigorous requirements from the start to finish of these voluntary positions... The formal thank you handing back your IDs and any uniforms .... to the basic of hand sanitising on entry into the locked wars and bays on initial introduction to Matron ...
There is not many volunteers on this unit. It has been a shared learning experience. Not all those who give the time, like to do some of the tasks. The levels of time and commitment appreciated that we give at least three months minimum ... which after about 24 months from the online application to the very day of entering the front entrance of this massive modern building which I saw being built. The opening at the turn of the Millennium... is quite a lengthy process for just three months of commitment!
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