Published on 21 April 2020
Lauren Alexander, 21, is in the final year of her BSc Sociology degree and is also working as a domestic assistant for NHS Property Services Limited based at Pallion Health Centre in Sunderland.
“I initially took on the role of domestic assistant as I wanted a job that could fit into my life whilst studying. University timetables are very unpredictable – some lectures starting at 9am on some days, and others finishing at 7pm on others so I wanted a job which allowed me to work a couple of hours on a weekend to help to pay my rent and other bills.
“The pandemic is an uncertain, scary time for everybody and understandably we have had to change the way we work drastically to minimize the spread of the virus. But our main goal is still the same – to ensure the environment is clinically clean, safe and ready for patients to receive the care they need from the amazing nurses, doctors and other key workers who work for the NHS.
“To minimize the spread of the virus, any patient who enters my workplace with suspected coronavirus systems or in some cases, confirmed COVID-19, then the treatment room is thoroughly deep cleaned by a minimum of two members of staff. As the treatment rooms are used all day by patients, we have to ensure they are clean and ready to use before the urgent care centre opens and within the designated time frame we are given which is often challenging as the deep cleans are time consuming, to ensure they are effective and done correctly.
“Some people don’t realise it, but domestics’ and cleaners’ roles are vital to the minimization of the spread of illness, and specifically this virus. Doctors, nurses and carers all do a fantastic job having hands of contact with patients but once they have been and gone, the domestics and cleaners are there getting masked up in PPE and scrubbing down rooms which are potentially infected.
“As one of the youngest members of staff, and with University face to face teaching currently suspended, I have offered to work as many hours whenever needed, where I can, around my assignments and essays to do my bit and help minimize the spread of the virus.
“Doing overtime has been challenging as I am in my final year of university, so I am working on numerous essays, trying to find the time to work on my dissertation and trying to put together a plan of what I want to do after university. My younger sister Keira, 12, has also been staying with me and my partner so I have been helping to home-school her and make sure she doesn’t fall behind with her school work.
“This is not how I thought my university journey would come to an end but at this point in time, we just all have to pull together and find a way to get through this.
“This pandemic is a frightening, worrying and an extremely uncertain time for every individual: our routines have been destroyed and for some people that can leave you with feelings of uncertainty and imposter syndrome, myself included. My best advice to get through this situation is to firstly ensure you are always practicing good hygiene, washing hands regularly and following any other advice provided by the experts. Stay at home where possible, except for leaving your home to get medicine and food but do utilise the one hour of exercise a day you are entitled to as fresh air really helps, it gives an opportunity to escape the four walls, get off your devices, stop staring at your phone screen and burn off some energy. Also, check up on your friends and family – Facetime, Skype, text, call and make sure they are managing.
“I often get extremely anxious and naturally worry so I would be lying if I said this situation isn’t taking a toll on my mental health, like many others but making a plan, finding a new ‘normal’, keeping in touch with my family and friends, making sure they are okay and making plans for when this lockdown period is over is helping to keep those feelings at bay.
“My employer and team in general have been fantastic throughout this pandemic. As one of the youngest members of staff at 21, my supervisor and work colleagues have trained me up, made me feel part of the team and supported me. Working in this type of environment is hard but when you enjoy going to work because of the team you work with it’s a great feeling.
“I would like to see the government addressing the lack of PPE given to all of the key workers working on the front line. My work are fantastic, ensuring they are ordering in the protective equipment we require but they only order in what they are told is essential. All frontline workers should be provided with PPE which covers all parts of their body, including hair, for their own safety.”
