Harrogate hospital staff praised for their resilience in 2021
But there are warnings of what could come in 2022
Harrogate hospital's chief executive has thanked colleagues for pulling together during the toughest times of 2021.
Staff took on extra hours, left their homes to keep loved ones safe and treated some of the most seriously ill patients over the last 12 months.
2021 put intense pressure on the NHS; having to treat covid patients, getting services back up and running once covid numbers decreased and leading on the vaccination programme.
Steve Russell, chief executive, said:
"Everyone works very hard all of the time but people had to go up a gear. We had to make all sorts of changes at very short notice, people saw patients in circumstances that were very distressing and they saw people lose their lives. That was gruelling for colleagues.
"It's been a series of gruelling times; one after and one on top of another. Despite that, I still see people doing their very best and they're continuing to be very kind and compassionate to one another.
"They still have a smile on their faces, even if that smile is not always mirrored inside. I still see people who work so incredibly well with each other. It's a huge privilege to work with a fantastic group of colleagues."
But as we celebrate going into 2022, the prospect is being met with anxiety by staff in the NHS who fear what could lie ahead.
Covid cases are increasing every day and while hospital numbers aren't at the levels of the peak of the pandemic, there is the possibility more people could become ill and need hospitalisation as we enter the New Year.
Mr Russell, added:
"That degree of anxiety about what the first weeks and months of 2022 feels like a little bit of Deja-vu of what we might face. It's definitely not the start many of us would've hoped for but staff are resilient and we will keep going."