A Nurse from Armadale is delaying the festive holiday while she cares for people overnight on Christmas Eve at NHS 24. Instead of eating mince pies and settling down to a festive box set, Nurse Brenda Harley will be fielding urgent health queries from the public.
Brenda has 27 years nursing experience and has worked at NHS 24 since 2006. Based at the East Contact Centre in South Queensferry, Brenda will be working with colleagues across Scotland and local health boards to provide urgent care and advice to people.
Speaking about her Christmas shift and what it is like to work at NHS 24, Brenda said: “I have been a nurse for a long time so I’m used to working at Christmas. I’m lucky that my family are very supportive. When I get home after work on Christmas Morning I will go to bed for a couple of hours while my husband gets the lunch ready.
“Delaying our celebrations a short while is not really a problem. Of course ill health could mean people have to delay their own celebrations, so I would advise people to be prepared – or even over prepared – for the most common reasons people call us at NHS 24. Colds and flu, tummy upsets and cuts and grazes can usually be dealt with at home quickly so you can get on with the festivities.”
NHS 24’s 111 service is available for people who need urgent medical help that can’t wait until they see their GP. Christmas and New Year is always the busiest period for the national out of hours service and this year it is predicted that, with two long weekends, the service will take 74,000 calls.
Brenda says, like all NHS staff working over Christmas, she wants people to stay well but if they need care to make sure they get the right treatment, at the right time.
“I’m passionate about the quality of care I give my patients but I also recommend taking a few simple steps to look after your own and your family’s health”, she said. “This includes having some over the counter medicines in, just in case winter illness strikes, and visiting www.nhsinform.scot for more health advice and information. Being prepared means we can focus on people with more urgent medical needs and those with minor ailments can get back to Christmas even quicker.”
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