Oldham hospital staff observe silence to reflect on Covid deaths

NHS staff at The Royal Oldham Hospital, and three other Greater Manchester hospitals, observed a one-minute silence at 1pm on Thursday afternoon (28 January) to remember all those who have lost their lives to Covid-19.

Following this week's announcement by the government that more than 100,000 people have sadly lost their lives during the pandemic, staff at the Northern Care Alliance NHS Group (NCA) - which runs the Rochdale Road hospital - decided to hold a period of silent reflection in their honour. 

Raj Jain (pictured below), Chief Executive of the NCA, said: "This will provide all of us with a moment to pause to reflect on those who have lost their lives to Covid, both across our hospitals (our Care Organisations) and across the country since the pandemic took hold last year. Many of our people have experienced this virus themselves and some have sadly lost loved ones, family and friends. At the NCA, we have sadly lost a number of colleagues to COVID-19, the hardest of times for our NCA Family.

"It’s also an opportunity for us, as an organisation, to recognise the impact and demand the pandemic has had on our staff and services over the last twelve months, and the immense contribution and work we have done collectively to maintain essential services, and support and save the lives of so many of our patients.

"Our frontline staff at our hospitals in Salford, Oldham, Bury, Rochdale and in the community have been amazing, as have back office staff. The virus really has turned the way we work on its head, and through it all the staff have dug deep and worked tirelessly to protect each other, our patients and visitors, be that wearing a ventilator and PPE for 12 hours, or our back office staff uprooting and working from home to limit the spread of infection. I am proud of each and every one of them." 

Nicky Clarke, Chief of People, added: “We know many people are still living with the physical and mental repercussions of COVID-19 day in and day out, in addition to the constraints and extra difficulties it is placing on family life – for example school closures and home schooling and not being able to see relatives. On top of that COVID-19 is the major part of your current working lives.

"That challenge for our staff is something our Board are acutely aware of. Supporting the health and wellbeing of our colleagues is so important and is a priority for our organisation. Our SCARF staff support programme is one way in which we are providing a wide range of support, practical resources, information, helplines and training to support colleagues at home and at work during these most challenging of times.”