Spare a thought for those working on Christmas Day…

Sarah Heaton meets some of the people who will be working this Christmas Day – and salutes all those who give up their Christmas to make it special for others, no matter what their line of work.

When it comes to Christmas it is easy to forget, if you are lucky enough to work somewhere that closes for the holidays, that more and more people are all busy working throughout the Christmas period.

While the adverts bombard us, depicting picturesque snow speckled windows, peaking into a cosy log fired living room, perfectly dressed Christmas tree aglow with string lights and a seemingly content family gathered around the table tucking into a festive feast, the reality is really very different for most.

For up and down the country the world does not stand still even for a day and often times it is these unsung heroes keeping things slowly ticking over in the background.

There should also be a silent prayer for those who have the responsibility for putting together the dreaded work rota! Delivering the bad news to fellow colleagues that their Christmas may look very different from the adverts, playing referee to requests of shift swapping and dealing with the disagreements about who may or may not have been off the year before.

It’s not all doom and gloom though. Some people welcome the opportunity to earn a bit of extra pay for the unsociable hours, while others love their jobs, helping others and providing a service to those in need no matter what day of the year it is.

Nobody wants to be taken ill at any time of year – let alone Christmas time. But the NHS is there for us all year round.

Nurses and doctors up and down the country will be working hard throughout the Christmas period, offering professional care and compassion to those in their time of need and doing their upmost to ensure a comfortable Christmas for patients who will be away from family and loved ones.

But it’s not just doctors and nurses but a whole army of health carers, from cleaners, porters and cooks that help with the smooth running of hospitals over this busy period who all deserve recognition and our thanks for what they do.

"Giving something back"

Charlene Murphy will be working at Stepping Hill Hospital on Christmas Day. 

 “Working over the holiday is important in this line of work and I have been in working over Christmas the last few years,” says the 31-year-old.

“I have even had family members that have been admitted into hospital over Christmas, so I feel working on Christmas Day is giving me the chance to give something back to those who have looked after my family at the hardest and busiest time of the year.”

Other unsung heroes who will be working on Christmas Day, just like any other, are carers providing round the clock care for our elderly members of society, whether that be in care homes or their own homes.

Dedicating huge amounts of their working time looking after the most vulnerable who may need assistance from bathing, dressing, feeding and providing much needed social interaction and stimulation.

The range of what carers do in terms of jobs is infinite and varies from service user to service user, adapting to individual needs and doing their upmost to provide a quality standard of living while in their care.

There are also a range of roles that are needed all year round, whether its chefs, cleaners, carers and even outside sources that are brought in such as hairdressers etc. all providing the crucial elements to run a care home.

Feeding 150 for Christmas dinner

Diane Jackson, 52, works at Gorton Parks Nursing Home as the chef manager and her team will have been preparing Christmas dinner for 150 residents from 5am on Christmas Day.

“I get huge job satisfaction when I see all 150 residents enjoying the Christmas dinner that my staff have lovingly prepared for them from 5am on Christmas morning.

“I am the chef manager at a nursing home and it’s challenging but very worthwhile,” adds Diane.

It doesn’t stop for our hard working emergency services either, who work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

In fact, Christmas can be the busiest time of year.

"It's part and parcel of the job we do"

Police Sergeant Jenni Halrlow-Smith, of Greater Manchester Police’s (GMP) Trafford District, explains: “Policing does not stop just because it is Christmas, as is the case for all emergency services, it’s part and parcel of the job we do.

“I’ll be working a 3pm-11pm shift on Christmas Day, which tends to be the busiest. It’s usually quieter in the morning than after 5pm when we will start to get more incidents coming through, but you can never really predict it.

“I’ve worked seven out of the last ten Christmases and from my experience we tend to deal with a lot of drink driving offences and domestic incidents.

“My husband is working on Christmas Day as well, so we’re going to celebrate on Boxing Day instead - I’ve got 15 people to cook for, so even on my day off I’ll be busy!”

Christmas is also a very busy time for the brave, hardworking members of our fire and ambulance services too, who have to be on duty all day, every day.

Making Christmas special for the children

Our social services don’t stop either. Whether it’s vulnerable adults or children in need, social workers are there around the clock when circumstances demand. Some social workers are on call at all hours and this includes Christmas Day. Many children will be spending their Christmas with social care staff and away from family, which can be distressing for them and it’s down to those who provide care for them to make Christmas.

Laura Moore works in social services in Oldham.

“This will be my fifth year spending Christmas with looked after children,” says Laura.

“These children are less fortunate than most as they do not get to see their family at Christmas and so it is up to us as carers to make their Christmas just as magical as any other child deserves.

The 28-year-old says: “This year I will spending all Christmas (including sleeping overnight) at the home with two seven-year olds and making their Christmas special, but I can’t wait! I enjoy making the children’s Christmas special and even volunteered to work on Christmas Day and Boxing Day because it is very rewarding.”

It should come as no surprise that people in need of a helping hand are not any less in need during the festive season and sadly a lot of people of all ages will need to talk to someone.

In fact, Christmas can be one of the most stressful occasions of the year for some, while it can be a very lonely time for others.

It is during times like Christmas where organisations such as the Samaritans and Childline are crucial to those in need and it is heart-warming to know that even during the holidays there are people that will be volunteering at the end of the line.

So, it’s important to know that if you or anyone you know should ever need these services that they are there for anyone at any time and are only a call away! You can call the Samaritans any time on 116 123! For Childline it is 0800 1111!

These are just a few of the people who will be working at Christmas to make our own Christmas extra special.

But the reality is a whole army of people will be working on Christmas Day – not just including the armed forces – or conducting the Christmas Day service.

But even down to those who may be serving you your Christmas dinner down the pub, washing up afterwards, taking you home in the taxi… the list is almost endless.

Even the media don’t stop covering all the news we consume online and on TV.

So the message I would like to send out to everyone working this Christmas is a resounding thank you.

No matter what you do, if you are giving up a good chunk of your Christmas to work and provide a service you deserve recognition and thank you for your dedication! Happy Christmas everyone – however you are spending it.