‘ I am not going to stop working ’ : on the care frontline during COVID-19

UNISON member Mohammad Ahsan is a care assistant in North London. He’s one of the brave key workers pulling long shifts during the COVID-19 crisis, just to make sure vulnerable people aren’t left alone. “Every day, I look after around 6-7 people, for an hour or so each,” he says. “I drive to visit them in their homes to give them personal care, wash them, change their clothes and help with cooking and shopping.” “Everybody is worried about the virus. Carers are worried for themselves, and worried for our clients too.” “Most of my clients are elderly and in the high risk group. Those of my clients who can look after themselves without us have cancelled their visits. But some cannot get up from their bed by themselves, and they need us to wash them, change them and make them breakfast. “They’re scared, but there’s nothing they can do. They can’t isolate.” While the government has instructed the whole country to stay at home, Mohammad describes how the government guidance on self-isolation and social distancing ‘isn’t much use to carers’. “We cannot be 2-3 metres away from a client because we give personal care. It is our job to wash people. All carers are at direct risk, but we have to give our service to people. If we all stopped working, who else would be there to look after the most elderly and vulnerable?” UNISON has been at the forefront of campaigning for personal protective equipment (PPE) to be given to all healt...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: Article adult social care care worker care workers coronavirus coronavirus health workers Covid-19 health and social care Source Type: news