Ewan Pow has been working as a mortuary assistant at The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh since the pandemic began, responsible for the transport and processing of patients who’ve passed away in hospital.
The Edinburgh University student also helps in supporting roles within the hospital and decided to start recording his feelings and to let people know what happens on the frontline.
Ewan – who also is a football referee in the Lowland League – said: “I had a particularly difficult shift about ten days into the pandemic. A lot of difficult things happened on this shift and I realised I needed to start working through my emotions and the experiences I’d been through to better look after my mental health.
“I started writing my feelings down after different shifts and after having spoken to a couple of friends, I bit the bullet and decided to start uploading them to the blog.”
The 20-year-old told how once he transported nine deceased people in a seven-and-a-half hour shift, saying that “death followed me around”.
It has been a testing and tiring few weeks for NHS staff across the country and Ewan – who has only had three days off since lockdown began – admitted that seeing how the virus can impact people firsthand has been difficult to process.
“It’s certainly scary at times,” he said. “I’ve had a few moments where the reality of what we’re all living through was a heavy weight.
“But everyone from the consultants in the ICU to the medical administration staff, who keep the hospital ticking, are constantly supporting each other. It really is a team effort and we all couldn’t do it without each other.
“I’ve maybe had three days off. The rota is done weekly to accommodate changes but with people being instructed to shield, self-isolate and generally getting unwell, it’s constantly changing.
“It’s unfortunately just a part of working in a large hospital, even outside of a pandemic. You’re around people who are ill and infectious and unfortunately a certain percentage of people exposed will get ill.”
Through the university and NHS Lothian, Ewan will be working as a healthcare support worker next week – another step towards his dream of becoming a doctor.
He said: “The opportunity arose and with the ambition of a career in healthcare as a doctor firmly in my sights, it’s an opportunity I couldn’t turn down.”
A number of his friends are also on the frontline and he paid tribute to all their work too.
He added: “From my interests at university and the groups I’m involved in, I have a few friends who have graduated early and will begin their medical careers as foundation doctors next week. I have a wonderful cousin who is working on the frontline, and she is nailing it.
“I’ve made many friends who work in different sectors, through my hobby of refereeing. They’re all on the frontline too, with some being social workers, civil servants, GPs and supermarket staff. They are all putting themselves in harm’s way for the greater good.”
Ewan has urged people to follow the government lockdown advice and help to protect the NHS, saying: “After seeing how brutal the virus can be, it will save lives. I know it’s tough and boring but please stay at home.
“I can honestly promise you that you will be protecting the NHS by doing that, and through your actions you’re all heroes, because you’re directly contributing to saving peoples lives.
“But I hope people will reach out to each other at this challenging time. This could be one of the loneliest times in the world for some people, and even a text message or a phone call could help pick someone up. Be kind.”
To read Ewan’s blog visit: https://
