THE NHS STAFF WORKING ON CHRISTMAS DAY
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HRISTMAS Day may see many services come to a complete standstill, but for the NHS, it is a normal day like every other. It may be “part of what you sign up for” with working a healthcare job, but the work of NHS and social care staff in Wales is more precious than ever on December 25.
As always, we are grateful for the work they do all year around, but even more so for going above and beyond for their patients and colleagues at this time of year.
Here, we profile a small selection of staff who will be working on Christmas Day and find out how they will be celebrating when they get the chance.
Maria Mallord and Chris Detton
Not everyone who works on Christmas Day gets to spend the day with their family, but mother and son ambulance team Maria and Chris will be.
They are believed to be the only mother and son ambulance team in Wales.
The pair, who are based at Rhyl ambulance station, are both non-emergency ambulance carers.
They will be working the day together before having Boxing Day as their celebration with their families together.
Maria, 56, said: “I finish work at 8pm so after a long day it will most likely be a bath, relax and bed for me.
“Boxing Day is when Chris and our family get together to celebrate our Christmas, enjoy a meal and open our presents.”
She added: “It may not be the most conventional way to celebrate Christmas but we’re lucky to get the opportunity to work as a family and spend our Christmas together. We do get a Christmas Dinner too.”
While the busy winter period comes with its challenges, Christmas Day can also be special too.
Chris, 40, explained: “Despite the challenges that come with working in a busy hospital environment on Christmas Day it’s just as busy as any other day but the atmosphere is different; crews, patients and hospital staff are all in the Christmas spirit. We can transfer patients to different hospitals but it always feels special when we get to take patients home on Christmas Day.”
Maria said they chose to work the day together, adding: “All crews have to do their fair share of working over the Christmas period and we opted to work Christmas Day. We’ll enjoy the day, we get to help others and spend it together”
Sian Kelly
Sian works as a senior staff nurse in intensive care at the University Hospital of Wales, in Cardiff.
She is responsible for patients with complex care needs and those on longterm ventilation.
As “zone leader” it is her job to ensure that patients, relatives and colleagues are looked after and have their needs met.
“As the patients on the unit may have life-changing injuries, I try to help them to have the best quality of life possible,” she said.
“Patients are able to go off the unit with their families or staff to the concourse or the lake to have the benefit of seeing different areas and people.”
On Christmas Day, Sian will be hoping to bring a bit of atmosphere to the day by dressing up as an elf while taking patients around the UHW site.
She’ll also be holding a festive quiz,