Hospital office staff step in to help on wards

HOSPITAL office staff had to wash patients and change beds due to staff shortages.

Non-clinical workers including secretaries, receptionists and administrative assistants took on ward duties as well as making tea, taking food orders and collecting drugs from the pharmacy earlier this week.

The Diana Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby, Lincs, appealed for help after being hit by a combination of staff sickness and ward closures.

Desk workers put on surgical gloves and scrubs to carry out tasks after two days of “intense pressures”.

Melanie Onn, Grimsby MP, said: “The latest news, if accurate, demonstrates how stretched our local NHS is.”

The North Lincolnshire and Goole Hospital Trust said the volunteering members of staff “were not involved directly in patient care”.