NHS healthcare workers are being pushed above and beyond their limits as a result of the rising no. of COVID-19 cases, limited resources and staff shortages.

Staff are both emotionally and physically exhausted and the psychological effects of the pandemic will have a lasting impact on their mental health. The impact of other pandemics such as the SARS is well noted, with increased rates of depression, burnout, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety.

Early warning walls were available on the impact of COVID-19 from China and Singapore. Data published from these countries detailed the mental effects the pandemic was having on healthcare workers. Mix this with pre-existing rates of stress-related illness, high suicide rates compared to other occupations and we have a perfect storm. With all this data available the UK was still unprepared.

To assess the factors associated with staff burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic a study of 2,707 healthcare workers identified these to be:

1. Feeling pushed beyond training
2. Exposure to Covid-19 patients
3. Making life-prioritising decisions

To deal with the intensity of the current wave, many staff have been redeployed again to areas such as ICU, with limited experience and training, with increased exposure to Covid-19 patients, and senior staff increasingly having to make life-prioritising decisions, such as whether someone is suitable to be admitted to ICU and go on a ventilator. Staff are doing this day-in and day-out, for months. It is not difficult to understand why our workforce is burning out.

A senior nurse based in a London emergency department reported to the Independent “We were seven short this morning. Some are sick with Covid, some are isolating and some have been off for weeks for mental health reasons. Every day we are relying on the goodwill of colleagues to come in to do extra shifts.”

“The extra support we had in the first wave, with free food, transport, and extra pay for additional shifts has been scrapped. Many of us are not from the UK, feel isolated and drained, and haven’t seen our families for eight or nine months. I have never seen so many nurses cry during shifts. Every shift is a struggle.”

Some healthcare workers have been forced to take prolonged sick leave for mental health reasons or have even resigned. “I have already been off long term for mental health reasons and I became so unwell, I attempted to take my own life,” another nurse said. “On my return, I’m being pushed to be redeployed. I was told I had a job to do and to get on with it. Many of us felt like lambs to the slaughter.”

The support provided to staff during the first wave, such as free parking, food, accommodation, access to psychologists and wellbeing hubs, is no longer in place at most trusts, at a time when the staff need it the most.

A report from the Royal College of Nursing Research Society in May 2020 showed 24% of 4,063 nurses and midwives across the UK, surveyed between 28 April and 12 May, said they were suffering severe or extremely severe depression. This is a dangerous situation for a profession that already had a high suicide rate before Covid-19 struck.

One senior nurse said: “I feel sorry for some of the junior staff. I remember I had to teach someone over the phone how to do non-invasive ventilation, as we didn’t have enough staff and I just couldn’t leave.”

“When junior nurses ask for help and feel overwhelmed, sometimes they are left by themselves to get on with it, as there just isn’t enough support. After months of this, I was forced to take a period of sick leave as I couldn’t cope anymore and felt so guilty.”

The pandemic has also had an impact on the next generation of doctors and healthcare workers. Many postgraduate exams are being cancelled or postponed as have some speciality recruitment interviews, which trainees have dedicated months preparing for. The uncertainty, unpredictability and the detriment to their career pathway has also contributed to psychological distress and burnout.

The goodwill of staff, on which the NHS has run on for many years, is running out. Over the coming weeks and months, the Covid surge is likely to continue. The government, key policy makers and local/national stakeholders must ensure that the mental health of staff is not neglected in the face of the rising Covid admissions and deaths, and that adequate support is in place to curb an impending mental health epidemic in the UK – the aftermath of which may see many staff members off on long-term sick leave or resigning completely.   

If you’re concerned about yourself, a loved one or a colleague the NHS offers an urgent mental health helpline. To find your local helpline please visit https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/mental-health/find-an-urgent-mental-health-helpline.  

For a full list of mental health services available from charities, organisations and support groups please visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/mental-health-helplines/.

As we begin to feel the effects of a second wave of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic it can be extremely daunting for key workers to leave their home and go into work.
This page will give you some helpful tips on how to keep calm, focused and take care of your mental health and well-being.

During the coronavirus pandemic key workers (aka critical workers) and those whose are unable to work from home are required to go into their place of work.
Working under new conditions and might not be so easy and many can find it hard to cope with the new way of life. However, by doing small things for yourself you can make a massive difference to your mental health.

Understand difficult feelings and emotions

Going into work during the coronavirus pandemic might make if feel like a difficult and stressful time. Some of these feelings maybe new, or things you've experienced in the past. There is no right or wrong way to feel or react to your situation. But these are some common feelings that you might experience during this time:

Stress
Going into work during coronavirus might make you feel stressed, for example if you:
- come into contact with a lot of people, including those who may have coronavirus
- have more work to do or you are working longer hours than you normally would
- feel uncertain about keeping your job or worried about money

Some of these effects will be felt straight away. Other effects could take longer to notice, including after the stressful event has ended.

Anxiety
Feelings of anxiety may be felt because you are worried about your own health or the health of those around you, including those who you care for or live with. On top of this you may also have other worries such as losing your job or financial difficulties as a result of the coronavirus.

Guilt
If you are worried about spreading coronavirus you may feel guilty about going into work or you may feel guilty if your response to a particular situation was different to those around you or how you would have normally reacted.
But we all react to difficult situations in different ways, so it's important to be kind to yourself. These are unprecedented times and the first for all of us.

Anger
You might feel anger about having to go into work during coronavirus. This may be because:
- you have to go into work when others do not
- you have to keep working in an environment where you may catch coronavirus
- you don't feel supported by your employer to do your job
- you don't have the right equipment to do your job
- there are a lot of major changes in your life, including at work

When most of us experience anger, it doesn't have a big effect on our lives. Anger only becomes a problem when it gets out of control and harms you or the people around you.

Learning healthy ways to deal with anger can help your mental and physical health. Mind have some useful tips on how you can cope with anger.

Taking care of your mental health and wellbeing

Taking care of your mental health and wellbeing is vital in helping you cope if you are going into work during coronavirus. Working long hours or under a lot of pressure can make this even more challenging to do.
Doing small things for yourself can make a big difference to your mental wellbeing. These are some ideas you can try:

Connect with people
Talk to someone you can trust and rely on. Just by telling someone how you feel can make a difference even though they can’t change the situation.
Make plans to video chat with people or groups you enjoy the company of. Keeping in touch with others as much as you can be helpful and help you take your mind off things.

Use available support
It’s okay to ask for help if you are struggling with your mental health. You could talk to a helpline or listening service about your mental health:
Call, text or email Mind's Infoline for information and signposting to support your mental health
If you want to talk to someone at any time about how you're feeling, you can call Samaritans on 116 123
If you prefer not to talk, Shout has a textline supporting key workers and their mental health during coronavirus. Text the word KEYWORKER to 85258

Be cautious with news and information
Make sure you are getting your news from trusted sources. If news stories make you feel anxious or confused, think about switching off or limiting what you look at for a while.
Social media could help you stay in touch with people but might also make you feel anxious. This may include people sharing news stories that you want to avoid, or posting their worries about coronavirus. Consider taking a break or limiting how you use social media.

Make time for yourself where possible
It may feel very difficult to make time for yourself while you are working, particularly if you are working more than usual or if you are under a lot of pressure. You may feel guilty about relaxing while your colleagues are working. But making time for yourself is important for your physical and mental health. Try to use the time when you're not working to take care of yourself, as this can help you keep going when you are at work.

Mind have put together some ideas you could try:

Find ways to relax - If you're finding it difficult to switch off from work, try some relaxation exercises which you can try at home or if you are taking a break at work.
Do something you enjoy - Having something else to focus on outside work can help you stay well. This could be something small, like reading a book, colouring, having a video chat with a friend, having a bath or listening to music.
Try mindfulness- Mindfulness is a way of paying attention to the present moment, using techniques like meditation, breathing exercises and yoga. It has been shown to help people become more aware of their thoughts and feelings. This means that instead of being overwhelmed by your feelings, it becomes easier to manage them.

See Mind’s pages on mindfulness for more information, including some mindfulness exercises that you could try.

Try to keep active
Try to build physical activity into your daily routine, if possible. There are options for most ages and abilities. This includes things you can do in your home, as well as activities to try outdoors.

Getting active at home
These are lots of different ideas you could try for getting active around the house, including:
- cleaning your home
- dancing to music
- going up and down stairs
- seated exercises
- online exercise workouts that you can follow
- sitting less – if you notice you've been sitting down for a long time, just getting up or changing position can help

Getting active outdoors
If you are getting active outdoors, the current Government guidance for most of us is to stay a safe distance (at least 2 metres) from any people you don’t live with.
If you are self-isolating, the guidance is that you should not leave your house, even for exercise. But you can exercise in your garden, if you have one.

Look after your physical health
It may feel difficult to take care of your physical health if you're feeling busy or stressed. But looking after your physical health can have a big effect on your mental health. There are many small changes you can try to take care of your overall wellbeing:

Think about your sleep - establish a routine around bed time, to help set a regular sleeping pattern. Give yourself some tech-free time before sleep, avoiding bright screens. Practice a relaxation exercise before you go to bed. Make sure where you sleep is as comfortable as possible.

Eat regularly and stay hydrated - think about your diet. Your appetite might have changed since the start of lockdown. This may be because your routine has changed, for example if you’re working more than usual. If possible, try to eat regular meals and keep a balanced diet, as this can help your mood and energy levels. See our tips on food and mood for more information.

Drink water regularly - drinking enough water is important for your mental and physical health. Changing your routine might affect when you drink or what fluids you drink.

If you need to self-isolate because you have symptoms of coronavirus, you can ask someone to drop off essential food items for you. If they do this, ask them to leave food at your doorstep, to avoid face-to-face contact with each other. You may find that supermarkets feel busier than usual at the moment. If you're feeling anxious about going to the supermarket, arrange an online delivery.

Think self-care, sleep, routine, rest. You may find yourself working longer hours or more shifts so take care of your physical health as best you can.

The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way we work, live, socialise, shop and travel on a scale we would never have thought.

Working in healthcare is demanding on any day, but with the pressure COVID-19 brings, it is more important now than ever to look after our mental health and well-being. Many healthcare workers have worked extremely long hours and under extreme high pressure. Many would have also been exposed to traumatic situations or faced with moral dilemmas as result of poor staffing levels, lack of proper equipment or confusion with new guidelines. The risk of long-term psychological issues arising from such situations is worrying for healthcare workers.

It’s natural for anyone working in the healthcare industry today to feel anxious and stressed, it is one of the most challenging industries and one that is faced with constant change and uncertainty.

Follow our five steps to help healthily cope with stress. 

1. Talk
Never has talking been more important. Everyone is going through change as a result of COVID-19. Talking helps to ease your worries and help you see things from a different point of view.
If you are feeling worried, scared or helpless at work, have a chat with your manager or a member of the senior team, it will help them see things from view and provide the support you require. If you don’t feel confident to be able to do that, there are people you can speak to via NHS recommended helplines.

Talking to close friends and family is also good as they can help to give you advice and sometimes it’s nice to talk to people outside of your work without the fear of being judged or worry about any implications your concerns may have.

It’s equally important to keep talking to your students and check-in with them of how they are feeling. Young minds are constantly developing and taking in new information, however many of them won’t have the emotional capacity to handle or healthily process this.

If you can encourage all the staff to adopt the same practices, it can help the well-being of the whole workplace.

2. Stay connected
You may find yourself locked away due to the ever-increasing number of restrictions and overtime find that you are out of touch with friends and family. Technology surrounds us, so there are lots of ways you can remain connected. WhatsApp, video calls via Zoom, Skype, Google Duo and Facetime to name just a few and various social media platforms can all help you from feeling isolated. And, if social media becomes too overwhelming then it’s okay to disconnect for a while. 

3. Stick to a routine
Whilst there is disruption around us, you must stick to a normal routine. Do the things you would usually do (as much as the restrictions allow). This includes keeping on top of basic things like shopping, cleaning, laundry, eating, sleeping and exercising. If you keep up with the little things, you’ll be able to handle new changes and extra tasks that come your way.

 4. Don’t be hard on yourself

Each day we are all facing new situations, no-one knows what the future holds, all we can do is our best. As a healthcare professional you are fully trained, qualified and experienced so never doubt yourself. You wouldn’t be hard on your patients when you are treating and supporting them, so why be hard on yourself?

If you find yourself having to take on more responsibilities, or work a different way. i.e. treating patients via online videos, try to keep what you are doing simple. Don’t over complicate your work or do things that are not necessary, keeping to the basics will help keep the pressure off yourself.

5. Take time out for yourself
Regularly taking some time out for your physical well-being is vital.
Find a few minutes in the day for a bit of peace or get some fresh air. Even if it means taking 10 minutes out to eat lunch without having any distractions around you. this will do wonders in easing your mind, refocus and help to keep you calm and in control.

When you’re not at work, it’s important to take your mind of ‘work’ by finding something to distract yourself with. There are lots of things you can do which don’t require a lot of investment, such as:
- Going for walks, bicycle rides or even a class at the gym. If going out is not an option; join a fitness class online
- Jigsaw puzzles – doing a bit at a time will give you the motivation to complete it
- Painting, making a collage, embroidery, pottery
- Playing an instrument – there are lots of tutorials on YouTube
- Cooking, learning a new dish or just experimenting with different foods. There are tonnes of social media groups, recipes and videos online showing you step by step guides

Whatever you do, remember the time is for you, no one else. It’s tempting to keeping looking at our phones, to stop temptation, switch off your phone and leave it another room.

We all need time to reflect, relax and recharge; after all, we’re only human.

Further guidance and support can be found by visiting the following websites.

The government’s guidance on mental health and well-being - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-the-public-on-mental-health-and-wellbeing?priority-taxon=774cee22-d896-44c1-a611-e3109cce8eae

Macmillan Cancer Support - Emotional Health and Well-Being for Health and Social Care Professionals - https://www.macmillan.org.uk/coronavirus/healthcare-professionals/mental-health-and-wellbeing-support

MIND is a leading mental health charity that provides support to anyone experiencing mental health problems - https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus/coping-as-a-key-worker/

NHS practitioner help supports the well-being of all NHS staff  - https://www.practitionerhealth.nhs.uk/covid-19-workforce-wellbeing

Royal College of Nursing has published COVID-19 guidance on mental health care delivery - https://www.rcn.org.uk/clinical-topics/mental-health/covid-19-guidance-on-mental-healthcare-delivery

Related Articles

£870 raised for the mental health charity MIND

TLTP Medical frontline carers go above and beyond the call of duty

Taking care of your mental health during lockdown

London Teaching Pool Ltd. (TLTP Medical) has successfully been awarded accredited supplier status on the Workforce Alliance Provision of Clinical and Healthcare Staffing Framework. 

The provisions awarded are: 

• Lot 1 Nursing and Midwifery Staffing
• Lot 3 Allied Health Professionals and Health Science Services Staffing
• Lot 5 Social Care Staffing

This is a new National Clinical and Healthcare Staffing framework that has been published under the newly formed Workforce Alliance. The framework will be lead and managed by the NHS London Procurement Partnership (NHS LPP). It will be exercised on behalf of the Workforce Alliance, with the Awarding Authority being NHS LPP's Host Trust; Guy’s & St. Thomas’ Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

 

The collaboration is a long-term plan to deliver a whole portfolio of health workforce services which helps to ensure there is an easy and quick access to a sustainable workforce.

Lisa Camp, Managing Director of TLTP Medical said “We are delighted to be part of a respectable framework that values our commitment to helping hospitals and medical practices deliver the best patient care and a high level of service. We are proud that our robust compliance and vetting procedures have been recognised, as this is an area, we continue to invest in.”

“The framework will allow us to continue to provide high quality, temporary, permanent and fixed term clinical and healthcare staffing services across the UK.”

"With over 14 years’ experience working closely with the NHS, and as a proud member of the REC; this recognition further reinforces our dedication to providing a recruitment solution that adds value. We look forward to meeting and exceeding the high-standards expected from this framework, in order to cater to the challenging recruitment needs and ensure the satisfaction of our clients.” 

For more information, please visit National Clinical and Healthcare Framework.

To find out more about our recruitment services and how we can support you with your staffing needs, please get in touch with us on 020 8709 6553 or complete a call back request form and we will give you call.

Through education and on the job training a nurse will learn excellent clinical and performance skills which will allow them to practice nursing, these are known as hard skills. However soft skills which are an individual’s personality and core values cannot be taught, instead these can be developed and mastered over time. The absence of soft skills can lead to medical errors, an unhealthy and unproductive working environment, dissatisfied patients and a high number of complaints.

We’ve put together some helpful tips to help nurses build their soft skills and deliver the best patient care possible.

Communication
This begins even before speaking. Eyes, body language and even dress code gives out communication signals. Interview research shows that it takes just three seconds to make an impression and this is no different when it comes to providing patient care.
In the first instance it is important to make eye contact, smile and acknowledge the patient. It is equally important to wear the correct the uniform and ensure it is clean and tidy. This provides reassurance to the patient, eases their anxiety and helps them to identify with a healthcare professional.
Always speak clearly and listen to the patient, this help to build a relationship, rapport and a sense of trust. This will also show the nurse is knowledgeable and competent.

Compassion and Patience
A nurse will always be drawn to helping those in need and caring for those who are sick and injured. They’ll naturally have the need to help improve one’s quality of life and minimise any pain, anxiety and suffering they are feeling. Nurses will deal with people from all sorts of backgrounds and beliefs therefore having patience and being non-judgemental is vital.

Ethics
All nurses will follow a framework of ethics that provides guidance on personal and professional conduct. The framework includes how to maintain a patient’s respect and dignity and the importance of it. 

Attention to Detail
The ability to have excellent attention to detail whilst practising as a nurse can be the difference between life and death. Nurses will care for multiple patients’ everyday all with different challenges and needs, and after a long day it can be hard to remain focused. Being careful not miss any steps, following correct procedures and protocol will help to avoid making errors.

Positivity
Remaining positive in a tough situation is hard, however having positivity and using comforting words will help to improve a distressing situation and aide a patient’s recovery. Being positive will also boost the mood of the patient especially if they are feeling fed up, have low self-esteem, are down in the dumps and depressed.

Time Management
Being able to manage time effectively will play dividends when managing multiple patients, working under pressure and responding to unplanned incidents or emergencies. It will also help add structure to the day, be more effective and efficient.

Stamina
The nursing field is extremely demanding and it can be physically, mentally and emotionally draining. Having stamina is crucial to getting through the highs and lows of each day. It is equally crucial to maintain a healthy lifestyle and be able to deal with the challenges that arise. Having time out to recharge and reflect is key to achieving a strong level of stamina.

Looking for a nursing role?

Search and apply to the latest Nursing jobs, or register your details

Related Articles
Benefits of being a nurse in the UK
Building a trustful relationship with patients

The NHS in England is the country’s biggest employer and one of the largest an increase of 2.4% employers globally. Of the 1.5million people employed by the NHS, in March 2020 permanent registered nurses made up 669,854 of NHS staff, an increase of 2.4% (16,310) on the previous year. (Source: https://www.nmc.org.uk)

The Covid-19 temporary register
In response to the covid-19 pandemic in March 2020, the temporary nursing register saw itself double in size from 7,658 to more than 14,000. It’s no surprise during unprecedented times its natural for those who have the desire to care together with the relevant skills and experience to offer their support. In addition to this, the NMC encouraged nurses who left the permanent register in the last three years to join the Covid-19 temporary register. 

If one thing Covid-19 has taught us is the importance of nurses and the work they do is vital as we continue to fight the virus.

Flexibility
NHS hospitals operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week which is huge advantage for nurses. The NHS understands the importance of offering flexibility to attract and retain the best workforce, maintain a healthy work-life balance and reduce absenteeism. Variious shifts are offered such as full and part-time work, flexi-time, job sharing and night shifts followed with days off in between – the choice is yours. 
Having such flexibility is highly advantageous. Firstly, it will help to give you a work/life balance preventing burn out and time to recharge. Nursing can be highly demanding and at times upsetting, so it is important to have some time out to. Secondly, it gives you more time for leisure activities, family time and personal commitments. And, finally depending on your specialism and terms with the NHS trust you can work in different departments and hospitals.

Competitive Salary
Working a nurse, you can benefit from an outstanding salary plus many benefits. The Agenda for Change sets the pay rates for all NHS staff (except for doctors, dentists and senior managers) and takes into account, level of expertise, responsibilities, skills, abilities and years of experience.
As an example, the starting salary for a Band 5 nurse with less than 1 years’ experience is £24,907. After gaining further experience and specialising in an area a nurse can move up the pay scale and earn £37,890 as top end Band 6 nurse.
Going a step further and undertaking a Master’s degree to become an Advanced Nurse Practitioner can see earnings of £44,503, Head Nurses can see up to £51,668 and finally, Consultant Nurses up to £104,927.

As well as the basic pay, there is also extra pay for those who work in areas where living costs are high, such as London. The NHS has one of the UK’s best pension schemes and offers learning opportunities through training programmes.

Career Progression
There are many routes a nurse can take when it comes to career progression, and what’s even better is you can gain first-hand experience before deciding on the path you wish to take.
Specialisms in nursing are endless, you can choose from many areas such as emergency care, anaesthetics, midwifery, neonatology, orthopaedics, fertility to surgery. You even have the option of moving into a management role, advanced practitioners and consultant nurses where they have the option to prescribe medicine to patients.
As a nurse everyday will be different and you’ll learn something new and invaluable all the time. There are also opportunities to work on research projects and be involved in new innovations.
You will be exposed to a variety of different healthcare settings, including hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and outpatient healthcare settings. This will help to keep your work varied, interesting and increase your learning and development.

Job Security
If anything, COVID-19 has shown us is the significant role nurses play in healthcare and without them hospitals would not be able to function. Over the last 10 years we have seen an increase in people living longer as a result of better healthcare and advances in medicine, this means the need for nurses will increase. Every year new nurses are required to replace to those who retire or leave the profession, it is a continuous cycle and as a result, there will always be a job for nurses giving you peace of mind that your job is here to stay.

Nursing Grants
In January 2020 the government announced a nursing grant of £5,000 will be available to all nursing, midwifery and many allied health students to help with living costs. In addition to this a further funding of up to £3000 is available to mental health and learning disability nursing students, those with childcare needs and areas of UK which have seen a decrease in students accepted onto some nursing, midwifery and allied health courses over the past year.
The funding will not have to be repaid by recipients and more than 35,000 students could benefit from the grant offered.

Find your next nursing position today

We are proud to work with NHS trusts across the UK, as a result we have roles to suit every nurse at every stage of their career.
Whether you are a newly qualified nurse or looking for new experience register your details here or view the latest nursing jobs and apply today

It is very easy to assume a healthcare assistant and care assistant are the same. But, in fact there is a difference between them. We've come up with a way to easily define the two which will help you find the right job.

Knowing the difference between Healthcare Assistants and Care Assistants is extremely important when finding a job to tailor to your expertise.

Although the terms ‘care assistant’ and ‘healthcare assistant’ are used interchangeably by people and the duties of both roles are similar, they are usually in separate categories which helps to create some differentiation between social care and clinical/hospital care roles.

The ‘Care assistant’ sector on www.tltpcare.co.uk  is intended to be used for role that are community, care home or domiciliary. Whilst the job title and description may use the term ‘healthcare assistant’ or ‘HCA’ to refer to the role, the difference in skills between a social care setting and a hospital or clinical setting is, in our opinion, too great to have all the jobs lumped in together in a single sector. 

On www.tltpmedical.co.uk we have a sector called Primary Care where the role of a ‘Healthcare Assistant’ falls into. It is intended for hospital and clinical roles. Healthcare assistants can be found in hospitals or GP surgeries. They can also be known as ‘healthcare support workers’ or ‘auxiliary nurses’, particularly when working in a hospital setting.

Find out more about healthcare assistants and carers https://www.tltpmedical.co.uk/healthcare-assistants-and-carers including how you can progress within the role.

What about qualifications?

Typically, any care assistant or healthcare assistant role will require candidates to have a vocational qualification; NVQ or an equivalent. QCF or NVQ Level 2 or 3 diplomas in Health and Social care or equivalent are a typical requirement for care assistants. Whilst there is no formal requirement regarding qualifications for care assistant or HCA roles, it is common for care assistants and HCAs to undertake additional training whilst they are employed.  

An enhanced DBS is also required to work any healthcare setting, which any reputable agency, like TLTP Medical, can process for you along with providing the necessary training required. The DBS and training must be renewed and kept up to date.

Latest Healthcare Assistant and Care Assistants Jobs

TLTP Medical work with several NHS Trusts across the UK, as a result we have a wide range of healthcare roles available that are flexible and rewarding. Visit https://www.tltpmedical.co.uk/job-search/browse/healthcare-assistants-carers/jobs for the latest jobs and apply today.

Don’t worry if you cannot find what you are looking for as we have new roles arriving daily. Register your details so you’ll never miss out on the latest opportunities.

As the UK begins to emerge from lockdown, buiness leaders have backed one last 'huge' applause to thank key workers on the 72nd anniversary of the NHS. 

People are being asked to come out and clap at 5pm on Sunday 5th July on the 72nd anniversary of the NHS to say thank-you to all the NHS staff who have worked during the coronavirus crisis.

Weekly claps became the norm in the first few months of lockdown with streets of neighbours heading out to their doorsteps, back gardens and windows to give thanks for the effort of healthcare workers during the Covid-19 crisis. The last clap took place on 28th May, after the woman who came up with the idea claimed the show of gratitude had "had its moment" and risked being politicised.

But this Sunday, it will come back as a one-off, with NHS bosses hoping to make it an annual event for the anniversary. Public buildings will be lit up in blue, including the Royal Albert Hall, Blackpool Tower, the Shard and the Wembley Arch, the health service said. As a mark of respect broadcasters will also suspend transmissions for a moment.

People are also being encouraged to put a light in their windows the night before to remember all those who have died from COVID-19, the same day pubs, hairdressers and restaurants will be allowed to open for the first time.

 The Clap for Carers initiative started on 25th March by Dutch-born Londoner Annemarie Plas. The weekly tradition was often accompanied by the banging of pots and pans. It was Ms Plas herself who called for the tradition to end after its 10th week and she expressed her hope that it could instead become an annual event.

 NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens says he hopes the public will use the anniversary as an opportunity to "say a heartfelt thank-you" to hospital staff.

Sir Simon said: "This year has been the most challenging in NHS history, with staff displaying extraordinary dedication, skill and compassion to care for the 100,000 patients with COVID-19 who needed specialist hospital treatment and many others besides."

"During this testing time our nurses, doctors, physios, pharmacists and countless more colleagues were sustained by the support of the public, not least through the weekly applause for key workers."

"No health service, not even the NHS, could have coped alone with this coronavirus pandemic. From bus drivers and teachers to care staff and food retailers and, of course, the public who took action to stay at home to stop infection spreading, everyone played their part."

During these challenging times TLTP Medical have been working extremely hard through safe measures to ensure patients continue to be looked after and their care needs are met. 

All of our frontline healthcare workers have shown immense dedication and have gone above and beyond their duty of care throughout the Coronavirus pandemic. In particular two of our healthcarers Monica and Alexandre who have been supporting the NHS East Kent Home Support Team for some time, responded to an incident whilst on duty last Tuesday 6th May. 

They witnessed a road traffic accident whilst they were driving to their evening patient visit. An individual swerved off the road and hit a pole. Monica and Alexandre stopped along with a taxi driver and called 999. They found the driver of the vehicle unable to breath and then he stopped breathing altogether.

  
Alexandre - Healthcare Assistant                           Monica - Healthcare Assistant

The 999 operator told them to get the man out of the car, lay him flat and to start CPR until the ambulance arrived. They duly followed the advice and Alexandre completed CPR for approximately 10 minutes until the ambulance crew arrived and took over. The gentleman was defibrillated and took him into the ambulance breathing.

After providing a statement to the police who attended the incident, they then carried on to their last patient visit who was receiving end of life care. Given the shock they were both in, they were extremely brave and kept calm throughout the situation. They both composed themselves together and proceeded with taking care of their patient.

Staffing Manager, Jane May said 'You should and I know that you will be incredibly proud of Monica and Alexandre and both the service and KCHFT are both grateful and impressed by their actions.'

Lisa Camp, Managing Director for TLTP Medical responsed 'Our frontline staff have worked so hard and to hear that they have done that and gone the extra mile makes me exteremly proud. We are very lucky to have staff who care so much, are reliable, passionate and dedicated.'

Lisa Camp - TLTP Medical Managing Director

She concluded to say 'It's not a just a job to them, It's the satisfaction they feel knowing they have helped and cared for their patients, bringing a smile to their faces and brightening up their days just by saying hello'. 

TLTP Medical are recruiting for healthworkers for various NHS projects across the UK, if you are interested in finding out more information please call the Primary Care team on 020 8709 6553. Alternatively register your details here www.tltpmedical.co.uk/user/registration.

View the latest healthcare jobs 

Working within healthcare is a highly rewarding role, yet at the same time it can be demanding especially during challenging times. It is important to create a strong relationship with your patient so that the very best care can be achieved. Building a good rapport will have such a positive impact not only on your career, but also on your experience with the patient and on the overall satisfaction.

We've put together 6 helpful tips to build a good relationship with your patients. 

1. Take time to get to know patients
First and foremost, no patient likes to feel as if he or she is being rushed through an appointment. A big part of ensuring that a patient is comfortable is addressing him or her like an individual, as opposed to a medical condition. While asking someone questions, you should try making it more of a discussion rather than a strict Q&A. Also, introductions are key, so don't forget to introduce yourself and your role on the clinical team is important for building a positive patient relationship. It shows your patient that you want them to know exactly who you are and what you’ll be doing to care for them. Remember your patients' names. Whenever you can, address them by their first names, even if it's something like, "OK, Helen, I will go ahead and schedule your MRI".

2. Be prepared for appointments
It's good practice to review patients' reports before you see them in person. It can be a waste of time to ask for information already in their files. Also, if you discuss the reason for their last visit, you'll come across as observant and interested in the patient's individual needs.

3. Active Listening
Active listening is an essential holistic healthcare tool. It is a non-intrusive way of sharing a patient’s thoughts and feelings. The goal of active listening is to reflect the feeling or intent behind their words. You should listen to understand, not to respond. To practice active listening, follow these steps:

• Listen to what the patient is saying.
• Repeat what you heard to the patient.
• Check with the patient to ensure your reflection is correct.

By becoming a good listener you are increasing the chance of better understanding your patient and give him the best advice. In addition to that, listening demonstrates appreciation and value. By asking, looking, observing and listening to the patient, you can learn what is important for the patient as a human being and how to help him. The language you are using should be simple and conversational.

4. Keep your word
Keeping your word is one of the most effective ways to build rapport with patients. If you tell them you will do something, do it. If your ability to complete a task changes, communicate this with the patient. Don’t over-promise and under deliver. Keeping your word with patients not only builds rapport, it also builds trust.

5. Maintain eye contact and body language
Besides words, the key is to speak calm and to use the appropriate body language. Maintaining eye contact communicates care and compassion. It can also show empathy and interest in your patient’s situation. Eye contact and social touch connects you to your patients and communicates understanding. Your movements should be smooth, rhythmic and purposeful. You should always explain to your patient what you are doing. 

6. Predict and anticipate their needs

Anticipation means looking ahead at what might happen with your patient and determining what he might need. Furthermore, verbalize your thoughts and don’t forget to ask questions. If you are able to predict and anticipate your patient’s needs, you will gain order, control and trust. Anticipating their needs will show them that you do care and that you are doing all that you can to provide them with the best care plan

There isn’t a manual on how to build rapport with patients. Some techniques will come easier to you than others. Practice each of these 7 ways to build rapport and choose the ones that come most naturally to you in your daily practice.