What it's like working as a Notts hospital cleaner during the coronavirus pandemic

'We were going into quite a daunting environment'

While instant thoughts about our hospital heroes during the pandemic naturally go to the nurses and doctors on the frontline - and rightly so - the unsung, forgotten heroes are the dedicated domestic cleaners.

The staff who go around wards, side rooms and open areas to ensure each part of the hospital is clean, hygienic and decontaminated - a vital role in preventing the spread of coronavirus.

And at King's Mill Hospital, the cleaning team have been hard at work throughout the pandemic supporting clinical staff, helping to free up bed space and managing an "ever-changing" scenario.

Nicola Lamont, 45, senior domestic manager of the now- 'outstanding' Sutton-in-Ashfield hospital's cleaning team, says the past two months have been "intense".

"It's been interesting, we've definitely had some challenges, but our staff have been amazing and really stepped up to the plate", she told Nottinghamshire Live.

"Around the middle of March it became really manic and started picking up. We've changed a lot of things about how we work.

"For a period of about two or three weeks things were changing on a daily basis. Wards were closing, the trust were doing red and green zones and every patient was treated like they are suspected Covid.

"For our cleaning we needed to change our product, so if it was suspected Covid we changed to bleaching which helps get rid of the infection.

"It made cleaning a lot more intense, because every time a patient left a bed we had to do a very thorough, in-depth clean. And that was quite frequent."

Ms Lamont and her team were provided with full PPE gear and given access to the hospital's wards as each suspected or confirmed coronavirus patient was moved.

It was their duty to ensure each room was fully decontaminated and cleaned before another patient moved in - an important role in cutting off the spread of the deadly virus.

However, the cleaners even had to do more than their own remit during the "collective endeavour" of fighting the disease.

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"On critical care they asked us to do ward housekeeper roles so staff could focus on treating patients, and the team we had in there were going into quite a daunting environment", Ms Lamont said.

"We were happy to help out in any way, it was all about communicating with staff and letting them know what the plan is.

"This entire process has been about the brilliant teamwork of the NHS, not just the domestic cleaners but the entire clinical team.

"The trust expanded critical care into theatres to make sure we could cope, and everyone reacted to it amazingly.

"However there's no need for that now, it seems to be a lot calmer and clinics are becoming busier with normal, day-to-day treatment."

Prior to the pandemic, King's Mill was rated as '100 percent clean' by a patient and staff survey, while the hospital itself has recently been graded 'outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission.

Julie Hogg, Sherwood Forest Hospitals' chief nurse, praised the work of Nicola and her team throughout the pandemic.

She said: “Our cleaning staff have gone above and beyond and like all of our staff during these difficult times, we couldn’t be prouder.

"I would like to thank them on behalf of everyone at the trust for their continued hard work and efforts.

"We know it has been tough with extra shifts needed to keep up the higher demand for cleaning services during the Covid-19 outbreak, and we can’t thank staff enough for being flexible and going the extra mile."