This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/healthcare-network/2015/dec/22/working-psychiatric-ward-christmas-commit-career-nhs

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Working in a psychiatric ward at Christmas made me commit to the NHS Working in a psychiatric ward at Christmas made me commit to the NHS
(35 minutes later)
Several years ago I was working in a mental health crisis team in an inner city psychiatric hospital and volunteered to work on Christmas Day.Several years ago I was working in a mental health crisis team in an inner city psychiatric hospital and volunteered to work on Christmas Day.
The Christmas shift started at 8am; I had the luxury of driving the team car from my flat to the hospital. The streets looked abandoned aside from the occasional dog walker.The Christmas shift started at 8am; I had the luxury of driving the team car from my flat to the hospital. The streets looked abandoned aside from the occasional dog walker.
The lead-up to Christmas had been busy as the team made arrangements to get people at home with their families where possible. It was uplifting to see that so many people had enough support to have a break from our involvement for a few days at least. This meant that our Christmas handover was lighter than usual but represented those people who were most unwell or socially isolated.The lead-up to Christmas had been busy as the team made arrangements to get people at home with their families where possible. It was uplifting to see that so many people had enough support to have a break from our involvement for a few days at least. This meant that our Christmas handover was lighter than usual but represented those people who were most unwell or socially isolated.
As a healthcare assistant, my job was to collect patients who had agreed to come to the ward for Christmas dinner. Some were ready and eager to come, making a few last-minute tweaks to their outfits, while others had forgotten it was Christmas Day and needed gentle convincing with the aid of a calendar and the TV Times. Some were pleased at the prospect of connecting with people, while others were shocked and upset that Christmas on the ward was their only option. Each client felt differently about their Christmas, but all of them were grateful to the staff. One lady I had been working with for months remembered my name for the first time in a Christmas card.As a healthcare assistant, my job was to collect patients who had agreed to come to the ward for Christmas dinner. Some were ready and eager to come, making a few last-minute tweaks to their outfits, while others had forgotten it was Christmas Day and needed gentle convincing with the aid of a calendar and the TV Times. Some were pleased at the prospect of connecting with people, while others were shocked and upset that Christmas on the ward was their only option. Each client felt differently about their Christmas, but all of them were grateful to the staff. One lady I had been working with for months remembered my name for the first time in a Christmas card.
When we arrived at the ward there were decorations around the nurse’s station, and a bowl of chocolates to keep the hand sanitizer company. Even with carols playing in the background, you couldn’t escape the tension of being in a hospital on Christmas Day.When we arrived at the ward there were decorations around the nurse’s station, and a bowl of chocolates to keep the hand sanitizer company. Even with carols playing in the background, you couldn’t escape the tension of being in a hospital on Christmas Day.
The clients staying on the ward were mostly detained for their own safety or that of others. Many of them were depressed, so reluctant to leave their rooms and join in with card games, or watching the TV. Others were oblivious to Christmas in the midst of psychosis but seemed to be enjoying the extra activities and food. Those that were most upset or agitated were comforted in quiet corners away from the main party atmosphere. As staff, we took it in turns to counsel or play party host. With warmth, encouragement and the Eastenders Christmas special, the arrivals settled in.The clients staying on the ward were mostly detained for their own safety or that of others. Many of them were depressed, so reluctant to leave their rooms and join in with card games, or watching the TV. Others were oblivious to Christmas in the midst of psychosis but seemed to be enjoying the extra activities and food. Those that were most upset or agitated were comforted in quiet corners away from the main party atmosphere. As staff, we took it in turns to counsel or play party host. With warmth, encouragement and the Eastenders Christmas special, the arrivals settled in.
Related: Cutting his Christmas jumper to stop him dying was the hard part
It was then that the sadness hit me. It was not the big, obvious sadness of the room full of strangers thrown together by difficult circumstances – it was the small details. The tinsel coiled around a jug of squash and bauble in the strip lighting made a golf-ball size knot of guilt burn in my throat. It was guilt at having the option of another Christmas, guilt at having family and friends waiting for me to get home.It was then that the sadness hit me. It was not the big, obvious sadness of the room full of strangers thrown together by difficult circumstances – it was the small details. The tinsel coiled around a jug of squash and bauble in the strip lighting made a golf-ball size knot of guilt burn in my throat. It was guilt at having the option of another Christmas, guilt at having family and friends waiting for me to get home.
There wasn’t much time to reflect, as I had to visit those people that were spending Christmas alone, who had not accepted the invitation to the ward. Along with their medication, I delivered small hampers filled with basics such as cereal and a few luxuries such as crisps and sweets. Initially, I felt like a stand-in Santa whizzing around in the NHS car with Christmas carols blaring. This feeling peaked with a fist bump I received as thanks from one client, who was pleased to have company and supplies. It soon diminished when I discussed suicidal feelings with another, for whom Christmas seemed spiteful and inappropriate.There wasn’t much time to reflect, as I had to visit those people that were spending Christmas alone, who had not accepted the invitation to the ward. Along with their medication, I delivered small hampers filled with basics such as cereal and a few luxuries such as crisps and sweets. Initially, I felt like a stand-in Santa whizzing around in the NHS car with Christmas carols blaring. This feeling peaked with a fist bump I received as thanks from one client, who was pleased to have company and supplies. It soon diminished when I discussed suicidal feelings with another, for whom Christmas seemed spiteful and inappropriate.
A sombre drive back to the hospital in which my mood clashed with the songs on the radio resulted in me feeling weepy in the toilets. I had to recover quickly from this to write up my notes. Then, as it had done so many times that day, the mood swung with the unexpected arrival of our team psychiatrist on her day off with a home cooked lunch for us. I had never felt the morale of the team higher than when eating our lunch from the paper plates. Cheerfully we swapped plans for the afternoon and discussed what we hoped was waiting for us at home under the tree.A sombre drive back to the hospital in which my mood clashed with the songs on the radio resulted in me feeling weepy in the toilets. I had to recover quickly from this to write up my notes. Then, as it had done so many times that day, the mood swung with the unexpected arrival of our team psychiatrist on her day off with a home cooked lunch for us. I had never felt the morale of the team higher than when eating our lunch from the paper plates. Cheerfully we swapped plans for the afternoon and discussed what we hoped was waiting for us at home under the tree.
Related: Everyone in the NHS dreads working at Christmas – but it fills me with pride
Finally, the afternoon shift joined us for the handover. As I left the hospital to take a cab home I heard the sound of karaoke echoing through the long corridor from the ward and hoped that the people who I had dropped off were among the singers.Finally, the afternoon shift joined us for the handover. As I left the hospital to take a cab home I heard the sound of karaoke echoing through the long corridor from the ward and hoped that the people who I had dropped off were among the singers.
It was this day that made me commit to a career in the NHS.It was this day that made me commit to a career in the NHS.
Do you work in the NHS? We want to hear your thoughts about how well prepared the health service is for winter, the impact of five years of financial squeeze, and your job. Please take our survey and tell us. It should only take a few minutes.Do you work in the NHS? We want to hear your thoughts about how well prepared the health service is for winter, the impact of five years of financial squeeze, and your job. Please take our survey and tell us. It should only take a few minutes.
Join our network to read more pieces like this. And follow us on Twitter (@GdnHealthcare) to keep up with the latest healthcare news and views.Join our network to read more pieces like this. And follow us on Twitter (@GdnHealthcare) to keep up with the latest healthcare news and views.