First wave had lasting impact on health workers

Negative psychological and social effects from the first Covid-19 lockdown were long-lasting for community healthcare workers, a new study has found.

In 2020, the Care And Responsibility Under Lockdown Collective conducted three national surveys with 3644 responses, and in-depth interviews with 22 community health workers. A followup survey was conducted in 2021.

It found many home carers and nurses took on additional responsibilities, often becoming the main source of support for isolated patients, at times to the detriment of their welfare and relationships.

Lead author and professor of nursing at AUT, Dr Eleanor Holroyd said four main themes recurred across accounts: going the ‘extra mile’ (heightened professional responsibilities and additional care work); the need to protect self and family; strain on personal relationships; and the long-term ramifications felt.

Findings published in Health and Social Care in the Community stated participants felt ‘‘exhausted’’ and ‘‘emotionally overwhelmed’’ in going the ‘‘extra mile’’. They often had to grapple with stigma, isolation and loneliness. Many felt poorly supported, and felt ‘‘at the bottom of the pile’’ for PPE, such as gowns, masks and gloves.

Participants described patients deteriorating due to changes in routine and being shut in their homes.

One nurse said: ‘‘It was like everything fell apart, and those who had dementia got worse very quickly. [It was] so hard seeing family try and talk over walls, and you could not really tell these patients what was happening.’’

Despite exhaustion, those surveyed emphasised the need to ‘‘keep going’’ – driven by bonds with their patients. Many took on extra tasks, such as delivering groceries or running errands, without extra pay or time off.

Even after lockdown, community health workers still felt heightened anxiety among patients and communities.

One said it reinforced ‘‘how little nurses are valued’’.

‘‘While supermarket workers got a temporary increase in pay to reflect the risk of working during this time, nurses got nothing. We got very little recognition and some people were rude to us ... it has left us feeling deflated and highly undervalued.’’