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Mar 2020

Coronavirus

NHS workers prepare to return to front line across Harrogate district

Published: 28 Mar 2020, 12:04 GMT

Updated: 28 Mar 2020, 12:26 GMT

by Vicky Carr

Across the country, former doctors, nurses and other NHS staff are being invited to return from retirement and career breaks. While some will be called into hospitals, others will be working in surgeries and the community, and face new challenges as they return to work.

Across the country, recently retired doctors, nurses and other NHS staff are being invited to return to work.

The government has vowed to relax restrictions for such workers to enable them to help out as medical services face growing demand, and as current staff fall ill themselves.

While they won’t be invited as part of the current scheme, there are also NHS staff who have been on career breaks for other reasons now preparing to offer their services again.

GP Joanne Gregson, who has been off work since having daughter Edie in October 2018, has contacted the Local Medical Committee to find out where she is most needed. For her, work will be very different when she returns than it was when she left.

“We’re all subject to the self-isolation rules too,” she said. “If Edie gets a temperature, I’m out of action for a couple of weeks.

“A lot of practices are doing video and telephone consultations now, trying to limit face-to-face contact. That should help to keep as many of us working as possible.”

Support after career break

Dr Gregson had already been considering a soft return to work through the GP retainer scheme, which offers mentoring to doctors coming back to practice after a break. However, with practices now in need of help to cope with high demand, she may return to work in one of the most difficult periods in the history of the NHS.

“It is anxiety-provoking because I was planning to go back in a very controlled manner,” she said. “As doctors, we’re very conscientious. We don’t want to make mistakes, we’re human and we want to do our best.

“I wanted to do some courses and get back up to speed. Going back as a retainer meant after each appointment I could speak to a mentor and go through things. Now, I know everyone is going to be working at their capacity and as much as people will try to help, they may not be able to find that extra time.”

With colleagues and friends working in front-line NHS care, Dr Gregson said she is hearing stories about their experiences:

“There’s a bit of disgruntlement about social distancing. We aren’t really seeing people doing it. I can understand that, because it seems unreal still, but we’re seeing what's happening in Italy and it is worrying. The message coming from my colleagues is, ‘do your bit. This is coming and we all have to act responsibly’.”