Blog

Elaine Spain is a domestic assistant in our emergency hospital. In our latest blog she talks about her experience of working in the NHS

I’m a Domestic Assistant and I clean all areas of the hospital in Cramlington, mainly working on the wards to make sure we’re providing a safe, clean environment for our patients, staff and visitors.

I chose this job for a better work-life balance and to help maintain NHS standards of cleanliness which keeps everyone safe. One of my ambitions is that I’d love to be the voice on a Tannoy in the hospital.

Covid has been a real challenge and the biggest one for us was no longer being on the same wards we had worked on since we started. Working in a different area or ward each day coupled with high demand to clean more rooms under a lot more pressure than before the virus hit.

Having to constantly wear masks or visors has been very difficult and leaves me feeling frustrated that patients cannot hear me properly or see my smile.

Because of Covid there’s been a very high demand and turnover for rooms to be cleaned, adding to the challenge of not being on a familiar ward with familiar colleagues.

The thing that makes me most happy is stepping back after I’ve cleaned a room and taking pride in knowing that I’ve played a big part in patient care and keeping up NHS values.

The thing I’ll most remember is staff all supporting each other and working closely as a team with compassion, dignity and mutual respect.

Finally, I think we’ve all learned to appreciate just how precious life is and be grateful for good health.