Dr Gray's Hospital staff forced to take breaks in changing rooms and car parks due to Covid-19 social distancing rules
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
STAFF at Elgin's hospital are being left with no option but to take their breaks in changing rooms and car parks due to Covid-19 social distancing rules, a worker has claimed.
Many workers have no proper place to eat and rest due to reduced capacity in the staff dining room, according to one NHS employee at Dr Gray's Hospital, after social distancing controls were put in place.
The worker, who wishes to remain anonymous, has raised concerns over staff health and wellbeing.
A rule of two people per table has been implemented in the hospital dining room, which means it cannot now accommodate a large number of staff at one time, and there is no designated space for the overspill.
The worker said staff cannot be expected to spend their breaks in the car park in the colder months – and that workers' own health was being put at risk.
The employee said: "The Covid-19 spacing rules are all well and good, but due to this staff are having to sit in changing rooms or their cars in the car park as there is not enough space for them in the designated break area."
Last month it also emerged that the number of beds at Moray's flagship hospital were being cut to comply with Covid-19 infection controls.
Some 32 beds and trolleys were removed across the Dr Gray's site, reducing the number of beds available from 190 to 158.
The worker added: "The hospital management can make the decision to take away beds to ensure patients are safe – even though there is very little in the way of patients in the hospital.
"Just about all activities in the hospital have been cancelled due to Covid-19. But they are not looking after their staff in the same way.
"Staff feel that as winter is now coming in they are being put at risk of getting ill.
"Who wants to sit in a car in a car park in the early hours of the morning if that's your break-time?"
NHS Grampian has been contacted for comment.
