Coronavirus: Former Queen Alexandra Hospital matron returns to help colleagues

Among them is Bev Vaughan, a former matron at Queen Alexandra Hospital, who is going back to work to help her colleagues in Cosham dealing with Covid-19 after retiring for the third time in January last year after a 39-year career.

With two days under her belt, the 58-year-old told The News: ‘When you are in the NHS you always answer the call to help and even though I retired, I had to answer that call and use my skills in whatever way could help.

‘My first day I was working in the Silver Command for Covid-19 which gives staff advice and directs people to the best place and I think it just shows how prepared Queen Alexandra Hospital is to tackle this pandemic.

‘I think there is a lot of fear about the unknown with the virus but I think people are prepared and there is a lot of support for staff to make sure they feel ready and if there are people who don’t feel that way then they just need to talk to someone. I overheard a student nurse talk about how anxious she felt and I stopped her for a little chat and she said it helped.’

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