As most of us prepare to spend Christmas with our families, think of the hardworking NHS staff who will continue to care for the sick.
Thousands of medics, as well as support staff, including cleaners, cooks and porters, will be on duty tomorrow as usual.
In Northamptonshire, Paramedic Kerry Aldridge prepares for Christmas for the fifth consecutive year.
She said it would be at least a little more fun than the last two years when Covid-19 restrictions were still in place.
“For the first time in two years, it will be a pleasure to take part in additional Christmas activities with my colleagues in the department and get into the holiday spirit,” said Kerry, 39.
“Christmas dinner is always enough to last all day!”
Last year proved to be one of the most memorable Christmas services Kerry has hosted in her career.
“The only job I will always remember is having a baby on Christmas Day 2021,” she added.
“Baby showed up at 00:40 so we actually thought we had our first one on Christmas but later found out we got an email from a baby born just minutes before!”
Kerry is from South Shields, Tyne and Wear and celebrates Christmas on December 27th with her husband and children.
She said: “The best gift I can get this year is spending time with my family, both here and up north.
“My kids are older so they understand why we celebrate a little differently, but I can’t wait to be with all of them.”
Hannah Durodie is a midwife at the Birmingham Women’s Hospital, who has worked at the hospital for over eight years.
During this time, she worked four Christmas days, of which the fifth this year.
“Christmas shift work is no different than any other day in our busy maternity ward, unfortunately babies don’t get a Christmas reminder!” – she said.
“Usually everyone is in a good mood and often wears Santa hats, headbands or Christmas tights. There is hope that you will join the family to make Christmas special with this year’s birth and the question is, who will have the first Christmas baby? It is often given to a midwife working the night shift on Christmas Eve.
“Sometimes Christmas can look a little different, as the midwives in our maternity ward are very different, and sometimes the most privileged role you can play on this day is to accompany a grieving family during labor or support them after childbirth, with this Merry Christmas. will be special and unforgettable in a completely different way.”
Hannah said the nature of the maternity ward usually doesn’t allow staff to find time to sit together at Christmas, but everyone brings “large amounts” of food to share.
She will also have an alternate Christmas with her family and next year will be different as she is expecting her own child.
“The best thing about working over Christmas is spending it with my amazing friends and colleagues who are like a big family to me,” Hanna added.
Sophie has just completed her nursing qualification at Leeds Teaching Hospital and is spending her Christmas at the ward.
She works at Beckett Wing and specializes in integrated medicine, a unit for older people who need support from the community.
“I’m not quite sure what to expect,” Sophie said.
“I decided to work over Christmas, it’s a new experience, and then I can go home to my family in London for New Years and take a week off.
“I would like to do something special for the patients here on the ward, maybe we can do some games. I love Christmas very much and love a good game with my twin sister and family. One of our favorites is Articulate.”
Source: I News
I’m Raymond Molina, a professional writer and journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. I currently work for 24 News Reporters, where I write for the health section of their news website. In my role, I am responsible for researching and writing stories on current health trends and issues. My articles are often seen as thought-provoking pieces that provide valuable insight into the state of society’s wellbeing.