3 minute read
Twilight Zone
“I love how my care makes an immediate difference to people. This job is everything nursing is about.”
As twilight falls, work is just beginning for the NHS night nurse. Jo Fairclough witnesses these beacons of light that shine bright in the darkness.
Craig Grant and his team have appointments planned throughout the night and already a dozen extra calls have come in from patients or concerned relatives.
9.00pm: Calls are scheduled for through the night and into the next morning. Craig and his colleagues have come to expect the unexpected.
9.15pm: A few minutes later Craig sets off into the night to his first call in Southport. It’s a familiar journey for him. He’s been supporting patient Brenda and her husband Arthur for more than a year after Brenda injured her leg. Tonight she needs help for a large wound which hasn’t yet healed.
Arthur, Brenda’s husband of 58 years, opens the door. Relief is written across his face. The couple greet Craig like an old friend, their anxiety has visibly reduced with our arrival.
Craig checks Brenda’s wound, redresses it and reassures her that all is well. As he stands up, she looks at him, reaches out and takes his hand, holding on in gratitude. Being with them in the room, the strong bond between patient and nurse is clear.
“He’s almost like a grandson to us,” says Brenda. “The nurses know everything about us. We don’t have to explain and nothing is too much trouble. It’s a huge relief and peace of mind to know they are always at the end of the phone.”
It’s 10pm and Craig prepares to move on to his next call. There’s an eeriness about the deserted streets, a sense of uncertainty at what the night shift holds. I wonder if he ever feels isolated, so I ask.
“You know I never actually feel alone,” he says without hesitation.
“We have such a good, experienced team just a phone call away and the out of hours GPs are a huge support too. I enjoy the responsibility of making decisions and I love how my care makes an immediate difference to people. This job is everything nursing is about - compassion, sensitivity and kindness to people when they’re at their most vulnerable.”
My shift is over. Craig’s has just begun. I thank him for giving me a glimpse into his world. We say our goodbyes, he disappears into the shadows - and I truly understand how Brenda and Arthur feel.
