How staff at Hartlepool's NHS Trust are fighting the coronavirus battle from behind the front line

And while the NHS works tirelessly on the front line, some staff at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust are playing their own important part from behind the lines as they operate vital services.

Registered nurses and other healthcare practitioners at the Trust, who have had to step back from front-line duties due to underlying health conditions, are operating a Covid-19 support line.

They take calls from colleagues to record coronavirus-related absences.

Then, a registered nurse can follow-up an absence call, if required, to see if a colleague needs any further support such as an appointment to be swabbed for the virus or guidance towards other services.

The team is made up of four registered nurses and two health care assistants, with all of them acting as an invaluable link between clinicians on the wards and the workforce department.

Michelle Arrowsmith, a registered nurse, said: “We are certainly learning on the job – the current situation is unprecedented.

“We’ve never been here before but we are all united with one common goal – to support our colleagues on the front line.”

Arranging for staff members to be swabbed as soon as possible is crucial as the tests can only take place on days one to four of symptoms.

That means people need to report symptoms as soon as they start to experience them.

It’s not just a high fever or persistent dry cough, it’s paying attention to lethargy and body aches as well as loss of smell and taste.

Elaine Wilson, health care assistant, added: “Wwhen I first got the call from my ward matron explaining that I would have to go on to restricted duties, I was disappointed.

“I wanted to be a part of the fight and I wanted to support my colleagues in any way possible. Then the opportunity came up to help on the Covid-19 support line and I jumped at the chance.”

Gary Wright, Deputy Chief People Officer, praised staff for stepping up to support colleagues through the “fantastic initiative”, which was put in place to assist teams across the Trust.

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