A COVID ward at Basingstoke hospital featured on BBC South Today, following the shift of matron Becky Hutchinson.

The mum from Basingstoke has been working as a nurse for 21 years and told the BBC she still has the “same enthusiasm and passion for it”.

But as the cameras followed her during her 13-hour shift on ward E1 at the Aldermaston Road hospital, it was clear that the pandemic is taking its toll on NHS staff.

There were 20 patients on the ward with Covid with one deteriorating soon after Becky arrived, requiring him to be taken to intensive care after his oxygen requirement increased and his blood pressure dropped.

 

 

“We’re just trying to do the best we can,” Becky told the BBC, “It’s unchartered territory”.

There was some light relief when staff sang Happy Birthday to Covid patient Tony who turned 80.

But Becky, who was born at Basingstoke hospital, said the long struggle was taking its toll, with many staff working 70-hour weeks.

“We are tired. It is getting exhausting now and people are broken. We’re a team sticking together and trying to get through each day as best we can,” she said.

She added: “We don’t do it for the glory or recognition or anything you do it because that’s what you do. We’re nurses, that’s what we do – looking after your loved ones when you can’t.”

During the filming one patient was discharged having recovered from the virus. He is one of nearly 800 Covid patients to have been discharged from Basingstoke hospital during the last 10 months.

Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Basingstoke hospital, tweeted about the “amazing team” on E1 adding: “We’re so proud of every member of team HHFT”.