London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Oct 14, 2026

Hospital workers: From cabin crew to the coronavirus front line

Hospital workers: From cabin crew to the coronavirus front line

Like lots of people, Nikki Hazelhurst lost her job last year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

"Before this I was cabin crew, it was my absolute dream job," she tells Radio 1 Newsbeat.

"I'm obsessed with planes, but I'm not quite intelligent enough to fly one so I like to serve on them instead."

When she found herself out of a job, Nikki applied for work at Harrogate's Nightingale hospital, and then moved to the main hospital's PPE department.

"I went from drinks, snacks and really happy people to somewhere there's a lot of doom and gloom. It's scary."

Newsbeat spent two days in Harrogate Hospitals for a series of specials you can hear on Radio 1, 1Xtra, Asian Network or BBC Sounds.

'I want to be back in the air'


But Nikki's skills from her work as cabin crew have come in handy working for the NHS.

"My customer service skills have really helped, I'm a jolly person and I'm a really hard worker - plus lugging cages around the hospital is tough work, but I'm used to trollies on a plane" she says cheerily.

Nikki Hazelhurst
So where does Nikki hope to be in 12 months time?

"Wow - that has made me a bit emotional," she says.

"I don't want to be needed here, it's not a good thing, but I will do it."

Nikki's partner has recently got his commercial pilot's licence, and she hopes they can both take to the skies again in the future.

"In 12 months I want me and him to be back in the air - my favourite place in the world is 37,000 feet."

Tom Bowe
Like Nikki, Tom Bowe also worked at the Harrogate Nightingale before joining the district hospital.

He finished a Masters Degree in Chemistry last May, but couldn't get a job in the field he wants to work in.

"I haven't been able to graduate yet because of the pandemic," he says.

"Because of coronavirus there's no jobs around for someone without experience."

'It's opened my eyes'


But Tom says he's wanted to make himself useful, and is now working as a porter and facilities assistant, which he says involves a bit of "everything".

"I've probably changed 40 or 50 bins so far today," he tells us - as he changes another one.

He says the work has been tough, but also been valuable life experience.

"It's definitely given me a different perspective to what's really going on, and opened my eyes to other jobs as well".

Faith Waddell
Physiotherapist Faith Waddell also found herself on the front line, unexpectedly, when she graduated last summer.

"I was redeployed to work in Intensive Care, which was scary and daunting at first," she says.

'I'd never even been in ICU before working there, so it was a fast learning curve and we had to step up'

"It was the case for a lot of us though, and we get each other through it."

'We live off the good moments'


Faith says even though it's been a tough - and unexpected start to her career - there's also a more positive side to her job too.

"Our focus is getting people up and moving, and eventually home."

And sometimes there's the opportunity to reunite families, or couples who've both been admitted with Covid, but are on separate wards.

"Just the other day we managed to get a woman to her husband and he really picked up after her visit and was even walking today.

"That change is lovely to see - we live off those moments to get us through the day."

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
MI5 Warns of Rising Russian and Iranian Sabotage Threats to British Military Facilities
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham Pledges Closer EU Ties as MI5 Reveals Russian Brexit Interference
UK Orders Security Review Following Reported Killing of Former Politician Ann Widdecombe
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham Meets German Chancellor Merz to Strengthen European Security Ties
Nearly 100,000 NHS Patients Treated in Hospital Corridors as England Braces for Winter Pressures
UK Government Rejects US-Russia Diesel Agreement and Reaffirms Sanctions Against Moscow
UK and Germany Agree to Deepen Security and Economic Cooperation Following Berlin Talks
British Prime Minister Burnham Pledges Closer EU Ties During Visit to Germany
UK Announces New Sanctions on 17 Russia-Linked Entities During Foreign Secretary's Ukraine Visit
UK and Germany Finalize Kensington Treaty to Strengthen Defense and Technology Cooperation
Britain Maintains Diplomatic Mission in East Jerusalem Despite Israeli Closure Deadline
English Councils Push Government to Rethink Proposed Funding Cuts
Scottish Homebuilding Falls to Lowest Level in 11 Years
BBC Chief Matt Brittin Defends Restructuring as Staff Challenge Job Cuts
UK Finance Warns High Energy Costs and Bond Yields Are Complicating Fiscal Outlook
UK Adopts All 44 Recommendations on Regulating AI in Healthcare
Chancellor John Healey Prepares Autumn Budget as Borrowing Costs Strain Public Finances
UK Investigators See Strong Indications of Iranian Link After RAF Fairford Security Operation
Laura Trott Pledges Tighter Controls on Political Activism in UK Classrooms
Welsh Ministers Launch Long-Term Review of North Wales and Anglesey Crossings
Welsh Government Orders 18-Month Study of Road Solutions Around Newport
Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin Faces Scrutiny Over £800,000 Second Home Purchase
British Households Grow More Concerned About Fuel and Energy Prices
NHS Leaders Warn of Rising Winter Pressure on Emergency Departments
Kemi Badenoch Proposes £2.3 Billion Employer National Insurance Cut for Young Workers
Middle East Conflict Could Erase UK Fiscal Headroom, Economists Warn
Manchester City Found Guilty of Multiple Premier League Financial Rule Breaches
UK Security Services Find Strong Indications of Iranian Role in RAF Fairford Incident
Costa Coffee Returns to Operating Profit on Iced Drinks and Menu Changes
Asos Warns Customers After Unauthorized Access to Retail App and Data
Kemi Badenoch Puts Growth and Deregulation at Center of Conservative Conference
Campaigners Warn of Deepening Social Care Crisis for Disabled Adults
Study Finds Rising Early-Onset Cancer Rates Among Adults Under 50 in Britain
UK Coach Operators Warn High Diesel Prices Could Force Route Cuts
FCA Opens Independent Review Into Handling of Epstein-Linked Whistleblower Case
Argentina Vows to Block Falkland Islands Offshore Oil Development
UK Chancellor Prepares Fiscal Measures and Welfare Reforms Ahead of Autumn Budget
Sainsbury’s and Morrisons Explore Potential Multi-Billion-Pound Merger
UK Weighs Tariffs on Chinese Electric Vehicles to Align With European Union
UK Threatens Diplomatic Expulsions Over Planned Closure of East Jerusalem Consulate
UK Energy Price Cap Hits Three-Year High as Middle East Conflict Raises Costs
Seventh Arrest Made in Suspected Terror Plot at RAF Fairford
Systemic Education Collapse Sparks Mass Student Uprisings in France
Green Party Faces Backlash Over Resolution Equating Zionism With Racism
Conservatives Debate Scrapping Environmental Rules for New Homes
Cornwall Insight Warns UK Energy Bills Could Approach £2,000 This Winter
UK Coach Operators Warn of Service Cuts as Diesel Prices Exceed £2
Scottish Parliament Approves £68 Billion Budget With New Tax and Property Measures
FCA Opens Independent Review Into Handling of Epstein Whistleblower
UK Government Drops Plan to Suspend Jury Trials in England and Wales
×