We’ve put our lives on hold to care for others
THE devastating impact of the coronavirus crisis has shown why the work of Newcastle’s inspirational frontline carers must not be “brushed under the carpet”.
Lesley Pooley says that home care workers like herself have “put their lives on hold” to work tirelessly looking after those most at risk from the pandemic.
The 57-year-old, who works in the outer west of the city, added that the effect of Covid-19 on frail and elderly patients had made things “very hard and very stressful” for carers. The grandmother-of-three says it breaks her heart to not see her family during lockdown. She added: “We all have families and we have put our lives on hold. It does
Hub partnership, a collaboration spearheaded by Lydiate Learning Trust in Wavertree Liverpool, comprising of staff from specialist Technology College Dynes High School and Childwall Sport and Science Academy, both in Merseyside.
Fans Supporting Foodbanks co-founder Dave Kelly said: “Fans Supporting Foodbanks have always promoted harmony and aimed to be inclusive. Our ethos is to adopt a collaborative approach with other fan groups and in life generally. So when fan groups become stressful but we work in a community and we all keep in touch with each other to see who needs help. If one girl can’t get through her workload, we help them. If you need to double up with one patient who needs more help, then we will.”
Lesley gets up at 5am every day and walks between around a dozen appointments across a big area including West Denton, Chapel House, and Abbey Farm. Her work can include giving patients food and medication, washing them, and helping them use the toilet.
She also cares for her elderly mother in between five-hour shifts in the morning and evening and says she has
“no time whatsoever for herself”, making a final 40-minute walk to arrive home around 11pm.
During the pandemic crisis, she has been forced to start washing herself down with freezing water from a hosepipe in her mum’s garage every day when she visits to minimise the risk of spreading Covid-19. But, after 25 years working in home care, Lesley says her own troubles “go out of the window” when she sees anyone relying on her help to get through the day.
She said: “You can have all the troubles in the world, but you have to switch that off. It has been a rotten year, but I am still here and I can’t go into a job unhappy. You have to became our priority.”
Writing on Twitter, NUFC Fans Foodbank co-founder Bill Corcoran borrowed a phrase from Liverpool legend Bill Shankly to thank his Scouse colleagues.
Bill tweeted: “They say football is not a matter of life and death – but when our friends from @ SFoodbanks and @IanByrneMP deliver PPE to ourselves on Tyneside for distribution to local care homes it really is. Thank you all who made, planned and transported. We’ll remember this always.” go into that person’s home and be happy because you might be the only person they see that day. It is a tonic for them – if you come in happy, you get that reflected back.
“I love chatting with people, hearing their stories, listening to what they have done in their lives.”
Lesley tested negative for Covid19 last week and, despite major concerns over shortages of protective equipment for carers, says she has always been given enough PPE to last by Newcastle City Council.
She added: “I think care staff do get forgotten about by some people.
“The Clap for Carers is amazing – you can walk out of a job at night and hearing all of this clapping for you, it is really lovely. I absolutely love my job, I love helping people.
“And I am so glad that we are being recognised now. The girls I work with are so dedicated.”