On the frontline: “Wearing a mask, families can’t see our smile”

Julie White is a Healthcare Assistant with the Hospice at Home team at Saint Francis Hospice in Essex. Here she tells ehospice how her day-to-day job has changed since the Covid-19 pandemic began.

My role as a healthcare assistant has dramatically changed since the outbreak of coronavirus. This is an extremely difficult time for all and to have a loved one at home receiving end of life care is no doubt adding to fear and anxiety.

We support patients in their own home for end of life care. We like to be part of the family but it’s even more difficult now as we are all wearing PPE (personal protective equipment). This includes gloves, aprons and surgical mask.

We, as health professionals, are struggling with social distancing as a lot of our work involves touch, and for us not to be able to hold someone’s hand, give a kind hug and reassurance, is very hard.

We want our families to see that we are empathetic and show compassion, but the PPE makes this so difficult. With the mask we wear covering half of our face, families are unable to see our reassuring smile.

We also worry that in the bubble of someone’s home they are not always following social distancing. We need to protect, not only the patient, but also ourselves so we can continue to provide a well needed service in our catchment areas of Havering, Barking Dagenham, Brentwood and Redbridge.

But despite all the challenges we face, we remain hopeful and we will continue to support our local community. I’m proud to be part of a wonderful team who make it possible for patients to fulfil their wish to spend their last few days or weeks in the comfort of their home, as we know this means so much to people.

Families often tell us how grateful they are that we are there to make sure their loved one is comfortable and pain free, so they can spend precious moments by their side. Knowing we are making what is often a very emotional time for families a bit easier to cope with, is hugely rewarding.

For more information visit Saint Francis Hospice