Coronavirus care packs a simple gesture for hard working frontline emergency staff across the Hunter
It’s hard times as our health staff across the Hunter region are busier than ever to try and stop the spread of COVID-19. COVID Care packs are being assembled to put a smile on their face.
Newcastle
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In the country’s health crisis, frontline emergency staff are worth their weight in gold.
While COVID-19 has seen the loss of millions of jobs nationwide, our health workers and frontline staff are busier than ever as they work together to keep us safe and healthy.
Newcastle doctor Biarta Rhys-Jones — who has actually taken a break from work to spend more time with her kids — knows all too well the hectic lifestyle of health workers, but now more than ever.
With a husband that is also a doctor and friends in the industry, she can see the continued strain, stress and anxiety it’s placing on our frontline staff.
While it’s not a solution, it’s a heartwarming gesture to put a smile on their faces.
She’s started up COVID care packs.
“One of the reasons I started the packages idea, because I was seeing quite a lot of stress and burden just about the thoughts and preparation for this, well before the public were concerned,” Ms Rhys-Jones said.
“They are aware they’re going to be for some really long hard work hours for a significant period of time and their practice is going to change significantly in terms of how they work.
“The logistics trying to maintain infectious patients with non infectious patients takes a lot of planning and organisations.
“It is very confronting to see people in hazmat suits getting out of ambulances. It can be quite overwhelming.”
The COVID care packs are a gesture of thanks which will be sent to the Hunter’s frontline emergency staff including nurses, doctors, clerks and even cleaners and security working at emergency departments.
They’ll include plenty of essential items such as local cold brew, long life milk, thank you cookies, info on simple relaxation strategies and breathing techniques to reduce anxiety and stress at work and self care cards.
It will also contain contact numbers for volunteers who’d like to help out a worker with anything such as dog walking, babysitting or even shopping.
“Ironically when the big surge of COVID is supposed to come, it actually coincides with emergency medicines wellness week, where they internationally try to promote physician burnout and looking after self care,” Ms Rhys-Jones added.
“It was quite ironic when we’re getting into the thick of the COVID crisis.
“I was trying to think of ways we could look after all these workers who are out there and a simple way is just by letting them know we are thinking of them and we are thankful for all their efforts.
“As a doctor myself I have probably got five times in my life a thank you card and they re-engerize your life and your purpose of why you’re doing the job, they really mean a lot.”
The first COVID care packs are due to got out by April 6 and Ms Rhys-Jones has set up a Go Fund Me page to raise funds but admits she will bear the brunt of the cost if needed.
“Just leaving health myself, I have just been paid out my long service leave and decided whether I make the money or not, to use my long service leave to make up for it,” she said.
So far she’s raised over $2,500 in just three days.
To help donate to the cause you can do so HERE.
She’s also urging anyone who can help out to register their interest to become a volunteer and asking local primary schools kids at school or at home to draw and write a little message of support to put in the pack.