“As a healthcare worker, I’m worried about getting too near my own children.”

Who’s supporting healthcare workers who are also parents themselves?

When news of the new cluster forming in Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) broke, many healthcare workers were invariably hit with worries as they navigated the situation. Not only did they have to face their own fear of the virus, they were also subjected to verbal abuse and ostracised by some members of the public.

The public’s fear of the virus manifested in different forms – some nurses had verbal abuse hurled at them while others found themselves with no accommodation overnight as landlords asked them to pack up and leave.

Challenges faced by healthcare workers who are also parents themselves

During the crisis, healthcare workers who are also parents faced a huge challenge when the childcare centres located inside the hospitals were shut down. I think all parents can empathise and relate to that nightmare of having to scramble or even beg the in-laws to help out when such sudden changes occur.

Thankfully for the healthcare workers, the union came to the rescue. Ms K. Thanaletchimi, President of the Healthcare Services Employees Union (HSEU), shared that the union swiftly jumped in and found places like the Orchid country clubs to temporarily host the childcare centres.

Insufficient paid leave due to childcare needs

In addition, she said that they had to help iron out unclear HR policies for these parents regarding leave entitlement. Many healthcare workers were exhausted of paid leave due to Stay Home Notices (SHN) that they had to fulfill after being exposed to the virus. Some parents, who had not been exposed to the virus, also found themselves in a pickle after their children were placed under SHN due to contact with their classmates who caught the virus.

The union spoke to MOH regarding the leave situation and successfully sought the employers’ understanding for some leeway.

“We hope to continue the work that we are doing and continue advocating for a pro-family workplace for many,” Ms K. Thanaletchimi shared.

A little love and understanding can go a long way

To encourage TTSH staff, care packs were prepared and given out to them. Wearing the PPE for the whole day is a challenge. And Covid-19 has taken an emotional and psychological toll on those involved.

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“The greatest morale dampener was the way the public treated the healthcare workers. I had nurses who cried because they were told to ‘Keep away from the children’,” she noted.

Being a parent is not a walk in the park. A parent who is also an essential services worker with an increased risk of exposure? One can only imagine how much tougher it is. As a society, we can all do more to empathise and support them!

By Faith Koh.

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