English: I believe that some staff are genuinely scared to go to work. Moral injury is certainly a risk and not being able to respond as quickly as they would like to patients or to hand over patients to hospital staff is having a toll on both our crews and call handlers and dispatchers. They feel that they're not doing their job. The increases in staff who are having to self-isolate or unwell or with long COVID, as well as stress-related difficulties, means it's increasing pressure on staff who are in work. I suspect we'll see an increase in mental ill health and physical difficulties once the pressures ease as people start to feel they're able to consider and even notice themselves, rather than keep going just to ensure the service can keep going. We're also seeing frustration, confusion and sadness when witnessing some of the scenes that the media report of people at large gatherings or not socially distancing after the first lockdown ended, and then, more recently, as many people appear to continue to mix. And sadness that they're not able to take relatives with poorly patients as they would in the past. This is what every member of staff I've spoken to over these past months tells me: the emotional impact on them is immense. One paramedic described the pressure he and his colleagues were under. He said that at one point an incident caused him to question whether he wanted to continue working. He said, 'During the peak of the pandemic last year, I was assaulted by a member of the public when I was spat on in the face, and that's really the only time that I've stopped and gone, "Is this for me?" However, the vast majority of the public', he said, 'have been absolutely fantastic', adding, 'we've had people waving at us and buying us coffee.' Our social care staff have also been operating under the toughest of conditions. They've seen the people they care for day in, day out pass away in devastating numbers, and without the time to grieve. The impact on them has been huge. They have strived to do their work in the most difficult of times. The fragility of the service and the pressure on staffing has been starker than ever. We've seen numerous examples of whole care homes isolating themselves like islands, separating themselves from family for weeks to protect the residents. The impact on all those in our care family - from carers to cleaners to cooks - must not be forgotten. We've also seen front-line NHS staff speak about the reality of fighting the pandemic. Respected consultants in Aneurin Bevan health board, such as Ami Jones, David Hepburn and Tim Rogerson, have all voiced their experience and described the pressure they and their colleagues are facing day in, day out. The way that some people have chosen to abuse those people who have simply tried to tell the truth is shocking and deplorable. It deflates the staff who've come off their shift exhausted only to be treated with so little respect. Although these voices are small, the majority of us must do all we can to make sure they're heard and supported. Our front-line staff did not sign up for this, and they deserve so much better. The COVID pandemic has underlined the challenges that the health and social care workforce face, particular those who are on the front line. Across the system, we have seen first-hand the incredible sacrifices so many have made to protect, help and support the vulnerable, not just on hospital wards, but also in the community. The full impact of this is still unknown, however recent research in England showed that nearly half of intensive care staff reported symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, severe depression or anxiety. Having a healthy, motivated and supported workforce is in all of our interests, but as we enter the eleventh month of COVID pressures, the NHS is facing one of the most difficult times in its history. Staff across the system are feeling exhausted and fatigued. The impact of this will be felt by those on the front line for many years to come. It's likely to leave a legacy of long-term COVID-induced mental health issues, and people questioning whether they still want to or are able to stay in the job because of burnout. I know many of those services already have support in place, such as occupational health and well-being services who are able to listen, run drop-in sessions, workshops and signpost to additional help. However, more must be done, and more support must be given by the Government, and the recognition must come with more than warm words and our gratitude. They deserve that. All our health and social care staff have gone into work day in, day out, and worked tirelessly, caring for our loved ones with little respite from this virus. We must do all we can to support them to ensure we look after those who continue to look after us. Extensive support must be put in place to help them both now and in years to come, and as has been said many times, not all heroes wear capes, but we know where many of them work. Diolch.
Welsh: Rwy'n credu bod rhai staff o ddifrif yn ofni mynd i'r gwaith. Mae anaf moesol yn sicr yn risg ac mae methu ymateb mor gyflym ag yr hoffent i gleifion neu drosglwyddo cleifion i staff ysbytai yn cael effaith ar ein criwiau a'r rhai sy'n trin galwadau. Maent yn teimlo nad ydynt yn gwneud eu gwaith. Mae'r cynnydd yn nifer y staff sy'n sâl neu'n gorfod hunanynysu neu sydd â COVID hir, yn ogystal ag anawsterau'n gysylltiedig â straen, yn golygu fod pwysau cynyddol ar y staff sydd yn y gwaith. Rwy'n tybio y byddwn yn gweld cynnydd mewn salwch meddwl ac anawsterau corfforol pan fydd y pwysau'n llacio wrth i bobl ddechrau teimlo y gallant ystyried a hyd yn oed sylwi arnynt eu hunain, yn hytrach na dal i fynd er mwyn sicrhau bod y gwasanaeth yn gallu dal i fynd. Rydym hefyd yn gweld rhwystredigaeth, dryswch a thristwch yn sgil rhai o'r golygfeydd y mae'r cyfryngau'n adrodd amdanynt, am bobl yn ymgynnull mewn niferoedd mawr neu'n methu cadw pellter cymdeithasol ar ôl i'r cyfyngiadau symud cyntaf ddod i ben, ac yn fwy diweddar, wrth i lawer o bobl barhau i gymysgu i bob golwg. A thristwch nad oes modd i berthnasau fod gyda chleifion sy'n wael fel y byddent wedi gwneud yn y gorffennol. Dyma beth y mae pob aelod o staff rwyf wedi siarad â hwy dros y misoedd diwethaf yn ei ddweud wrthyf: mae'r effaith emosiynol arnynt yn aruthrol. Disgrifiodd un parafeddyg y pwysau arno ef a'i gydweithwyr. Dywedodd ar un pwynt fod digwyddiad wedi achosi iddo gwestiynu a oedd am barhau i weithio. Dywedodd, 'Pan oedd y pandemig ar ei anterth y llynedd, ymosododd aelod o'r cyhoedd arnaf a phoeri yn fy wyneb, a dyna'r unig dro i mi stopio a gofyn, "Ai dyma rwyf fi eisiau?" Fodd bynnag, mae'r mwyafrif llethol o'r cyhoedd', meddai, 'wedi bod yn hollol wych', gan ychwanegu, 'rydym wedi cael pobl yn codi llaw arnom ac yn prynu coffi i ni.' Mae ein staff gofal cymdeithasol hefyd wedi bod yn gweithredu yn yr amgylchiadau anoddaf. Maent wedi gweld y bobl y maent yn gofalu amdanynt o ddydd i ddydd yn marw mewn niferoedd erchyll, a heb amser i alaru. Mae'r effaith arnynt wedi bod yn enfawr. Maent wedi ymdrechu i wneud eu gwaith ar yr adegau anoddaf. Mae breuder y gwasanaeth a'r pwysau ar staffio wedi bod yn fwy amlwg nag erioed. Rydym wedi gweld nifer o enghreifftiau o gartrefi gofal cyfan yn hunanynysu, yn union fel ynysoedd, gan gadw rhag eu teuluoedd am wythnosau er mwyn diogelu'r preswylwyr. Ni ddylid anghofio'r effaith ar bawb yn ein teulu gofal - o ofalwyr i lanhawyr i gogyddion. Rydym hefyd wedi gweld staff rheng flaen y GIG yn siarad am realiti ymladd y pandemig. Mae meddygon ymgynghorol uchel eu parch ym mwrdd iechyd Aneurin Bevan, fel Ami Jones, David Hepburn a Tim Rogerson, i gyd wedi lleisio eu profiad ac wedi disgrifio'r pwysau y maent hwy a'u cydweithwyr yn ei wynebu o un diwrnod i'r llall. Mae'r ffordd y mae rhai pobl wedi dewis sarhau'r bobl sydd wedi ceisio dweud y gwir yn frawychus ac yn warthus. Mae'n destun gofid i'r staff sydd wedi dod oddi ar eu sifftiau'n lluddedig ddim ond i gael eu trin gyda chyn lleied o barch. Er mai lleiafrif bach yw'r lleisiau hyn, mae'n rhaid i ni'r mwyafrif wneud popeth yn ein gallu i sicrhau eu bod yn cael eu clywed a'u cefnogi. Ni ddylai ein staff rheng flaen orfod wynebu hyn, ac maent yn haeddu cymaint gwell. Mae'r pandemig COVID wedi tanlinellu'r heriau y mae'r gweithlu iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol yn eu hwynebu, yn enwedig y rhai sydd ar y rheng flaen. Ar draws y system, gwelsom drosom ein hunain yr aberth anhygoel y mae cynifer wedi'i wneud i ddiogelu, helpu a chefnogi pobl fregus, nid yn unig ar wardiau ysbytai, ond yn y gymuned hefyd. Nid yw effaith lawn hyn yn hysbys o hyd, ond dangosodd ymchwil ddiweddar yn Lloegr fod bron i hanner y staff gofal dwys wedi nodi symptomau o anhwylder straen wedi trawma, iselder difrifol neu orbryder. Mae cael gweithlu iach, brwdfrydig ac wedi'i gefnogi o fudd i bawb ohonom, ond wrth inni ddechrau ar yr unfed mis ar ddeg o bwysau COVID, mae'r GIG yn wynebu un o'r adegau anoddaf yn ei hanes. Mae staff ar draws y system yn teimlo'n flinedig ac yn lluddedig. Bydd effaith hyn i'w theimlo gan y rhai ar y rheng flaen am flynyddoedd lawer i ddod. Mae'n debygol o adael gwaddol o broblemau iechyd meddwl hirdymor wedi'u hachosi gan COVID, a phobl yn cwestiynu a ydynt yn dal i fod eisiau neu'n gallu aros yn y swydd o ganlyniad i orweithio. Gwn fod gan lawer o'r gwasanaethau hynny gymorth ar waith eisoes, megis gwasanaethau iechyd galwedigaethol a lles sy'n gallu gwrando, cynnal sesiynau galw heibio, gweithdai a chyfeirio at gymorth ychwanegol. Fodd bynnag, rhaid gwneud mwy, a rhaid i'r Llywodraeth roi mwy o gefnogaeth, a rhaid cael mwy na geiriau cynnes a'n diolch i ategu'r gydnabyddiaeth honno. Maent yn haeddu hynny. Mae ein holl staff iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol wedi mynd i'r gwaith o un diwrnod i'r llall, ac wedi gweithio'n ddiflino, gan ofalu am ein hanwyliaid heb fawr o seibiant rhag y feirws hwn. Rhaid inni wneud popeth yn ein gallu i'w cynorthwyo i sicrhau ein bod yn gofalu am y rhai sy'n parhau i ofalu amdanom ni. Rhaid rhoi cymorth helaeth ar waith i'w helpu nawr ac yn y blynyddoedd i ddod, ac fel y dywedwyd droeon, nid yw pob arwr yn gwisgo clogyn, ond gwyddom ble mae llawer ohonynt yn gweithio. Diolch.