Three generations working on the NHS front line
WORKING on the front line of the NHS is something of a family business for this trio.
Three generations of the same family are working in Newcastle’s hospitals during the pandemic – a mother, daughter and grandma.
Verity Pinkney, 37, is a nurse and clinical educator in renal services at the Freeman Hospital while her mother Audrey Crosby, 64, works as a healthcare assistant in elderly rehabilitation down the corridor. The youngest health professional in the family is Verity’s daughter, Megan Latimer, 20. She’s a student nurse in her second year and is training within hospitals in Newcastle. Verity revealed what it’s like to be working in the hospitals at such a stressful time, while also worrying about two of the people most dear to her in the world doing similar jobs.
She said: “I am worried as they are my family and I know what they are facing every day but we are safe, working in the hospital, we know what we are up against and how to handle it. ”
Verity knows better than anyone what medical professionals have been through in recent months. She said: “Morale is generally good, but staff do have times of anxiety. There is a lot of support available amongst the staff as we are all aware of the risks involved.”
Megan, 20, followed in her mum’s nursing footsteps and is a second year student nurse with Northumbria University on placements at the hospital.
She was due to work on a cardio ward but has volunteered to give extra support where it is needed.
Proud mum Verity said: “She may go to the wards where she was due to go for her placements or she may be redeployed somewhere else. She wants to be on the front line, helping staff but also learning.”