‘Sometimes the excitement, alcohol, food makes it more likely’ people have to be rushed for life-saving care
The amazing midwives delivering babies this Christmas
Every Christmas, doctors and nurses try their best to get patients back home in time to share the special day with their loved ones. But there’s one place in one of Greater Manchester’s hospitals that is preparing for one of its ‘busiest’ days of the year
Festus Omeike, who lives in Moston, is one of thousands of NHS staff working on Christmas Day in this country providing life-saving care.
The dad-of-four started out as a support worker in 2017 before qualifying as a nurse in 2021. He now works at the Acute Cardiac Centre in Manchester Royal Infirmary, treating people who come in with cardiac arrests and heart attacks.
It can be a scary experience for patients and their families, and heart attacks make no exception for Christmas time.
“Heart attacks don’t know about Christmas. Heart attacks don’t take days off – even at Christmas,” he told the Manchester Evening News. “From my years of experience, it’s probably one of the days we are busiest!
“Sometimes the excitement, alcohol, food makes it more likely people might have a cardiac arrest. We take them straight from the ambulance to a procedure, and then down to the ward for monitoring.”
Festus explained that a lot of patients don’t know what to expect, and believe they’re going to die. “Heart attacks and cardiac arrests are one of the most frightening situations people can face,” he continued.
“Some people might not even know they have an illness and their heart attack comes completely unexpectedly. A lot of the time it can be the most shocking thing that’s ever happened to you, especially if it comes during Christmas time.
“It’s supposed to be family time when families are supposed to be together, but have to be separated because the patient finds themselves in hospital in critical condition.
“A lot of people don’t know what to expect, lots of people think they’re going to die. We’re there to support and tell them that heart attacks happen, it can be part of life – and if you follow the advice and treatment, you can live a very normal life depending on the damage done to your heart.”
Festus shared that the centre finds its own ways of celebrating Christmas for patients unable to spend it at home. He said: “My responsibilities on Christmas Day are no different to other days, but people do feel like they should have been at home with their families. It’s so important for staff to understand that this time is special, so we need to help patients understand that they’re alive and we’re here to care for them.
“It’s also about reminding them that Christmas never finishes. You still hopefully have more to celebrate in the coming years now that you’re getting treatment for your condition.
“You might be missing out this year, but we’re just grateful you’ve made it, not everyone does.
“And there are plenty of ways we can celebrate on the wards and make it memorable for patients. We put up decorations, we make our own nativity out of things you’d find in a hospital.”
Although he may be missing out on spending December 25 with his own family, it’s an honour to serve the city and its people, says Festus. “I’ve always loved to care for people at the most vulnerable times of their lives. It’s what keeps me going – I love it,” the nurse explained.
“Being a nurse is a vocation. Caring for people at their most vulnerable shows you what you’re made of. Words aren’t enough to describe how nurses feel.
“When patients get well and go home, I can’t tell you what it’s like when a patient tells you that you’ve done a good job. It keeps us going and makes us see how we play our part in our community.
“Even though we’re supposed to be with our own families, it’s our pleasure to work on Christmas Day and make a difference in our community at people’s most vulnerable times.
“My kids understand that we must always be there to support others, this is at our core as a family. I celebrate with my family on the phone through video calls on my break, and then I have a Christmas Day on the 27th.”
