STORM HEROES
NHS workers and good samaritans cast adversity aside to spring to aid of those in need
THE Beast from the East might have brought much of Scotland to its knees – but some hardy heroes braved the blizzards to keep vital services running and help those in need.
A surgeon walked miles through the snow to carry out a vital operation, while nurses bedded down in hospitals to be there for their patients and teams of volunteers with vehicles capable of tackling the huge drifts gave their time to transport medics to and from work.
Members of the public leapt to the aid of hundreds of stranded drivers, businesses opened their doors to the homeless and communities made sure the elderly and vulnerable were safe in their homes.
As hard-working emergency services staff battled to deal with almost 1900 emergency calls in 24 hours, dedicated medical staff, carers and ordinary folk went the extra mile to help others.
Glasgow-based surgeon Andy Renwick told of a colleague who walked eight miles from Anniesland in Glasgow to Paisley to operate on a cancer patient yesterday.
He said: “It took her two hours and 50 minutes. I saw her come in, she had snow goggles on, Gortexed up, top and bottom, snow shoes and walking poles.
“She is operating today on someone who has bowel cancer, she knew that had to be done and so she has made extra effort to get in here to make sure that was actually delivered.”
At the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley one group of caring nurses walked for more than two and a half hours on Wednesday before doing a 12-and-a-half hour night shift with no thought about how they would get home again.
Staff nurse Helen Watson shared the experience of her and fellow staff nurses Louise and Imelda on Facebook with the lighthearted hashtags #24-hour party people, #I survived the M8 and #Ain’t no snow flake stopping me.
She said: “I have never been prouder to work for the NHS – everyone has rallied round and its great to be part of this wonderful NHS.”
Nurse Alex Bann, from Fife, was one of countless others staying overnight at hospitals on Wednesday.
She tweeted a picture of her bed for the night, saying: “Staying at the hospital due to the weather and also as myself and countless others are staying late and sleeping here to ensure a safe service for our patients tonight and tomorrow, no matter what the weather. It’s the people that make our NHS great.”
Even people with no connection to the
emergency services did their bit to help. Ross McKinnon and a team of workers from his events firm used their company 4x4s to transport staff to and from the children’s hospital in Glasgow.
Three men who came to the aid of drivers stranded in the snow on a motorway overnight were hailed after delivering pizzas and Irn Bru to people.
Adam Kirk, 32, Barry Currie, 30, and his dad Peter, 50, ignored the horrendous conditions to take food and drink to those stuck in the snow on the M80 on Wednesday night.
Adam, a chef, Barry, a gas technician, and Peter, a bin man, walked for almost an hour in the hazardous conditions because they were worried about vulnerable drivers.
Adam, from Cumbernauld, said: “I was worried about there being kids, or vulnerable people stuck in their cars, so we just wanted to make sure they were OK.”
Taxi driver Callum Rogers has spent the last two days picking up stricken travellers in Midlothian free of charge – including a freezing elderly lady who had forgotten her address and a cancer patient who had just finished chemotherapy.
The 26-year-old, who works for Midlothian County Private Hire, came to the aid of the confused OAP after spotting her at a bus stop in Newbattle yesterday. Callum said: “It’s only cost me my time and about £20 in fuel so it was a no-brainer to help.”
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon thanked “all the snow heroes across Scotland” for their efforts.
She said: “Emergency services, NHS and social care staff and road maintenance workers have done a tremendous job in very difficult circumstances.
“I’d also like to thank Scotland’s many volunteers who have been helping with the response, and everyone across the country who has taken the time to check on elderly or vulnerable neighbours.”
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