London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Tuesday, Mar 31, 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
King Charles Plans US State Visit as UK Strengthens Ties with Trump Leadership
UK Regulator Launches Investigation Into Microsoft’s Business Software Practices
Kanye West Set for High-Profile Return to UK Stage at Wireless Festival
Trump Presses Europe to Strengthen Commitment as Iran Conflict Escalates
UK to Deploy Additional Troops to Middle East Amid Rising Regional Tensions
UK Authorities Face Claims of Heavy-Handed Measures in Monitoring Released Pro-Palestine Activists
Trump Calls on UK to Secure Its Own Energy as Iran Conflict Intensifies
Nigel Farage Declines Invitation to UK Conservative Conference Led by Liz Truss
Trump Warns Allies to Take Responsibility as Rift Deepens with UK and France Over Iran Conflict
How Britain’s Prime Minister Controls U.S. Bomber Access in Escalating Iran Conflict
Trump Urges Allies to Secure Their Own Oil Supplies as Hormuz Crisis Disrupts Global Energy
Russia Expels British Diplomat as UK Pushes Back Against Pressure
White House App Faces Scrutiny After Claims of Continuous User Location Tracking
BBC Faces Scrutiny Over Allegations of Paid Content Linked to Saudi Arabia
UK-France Coastal Patrol Agreement Nears Breakdown Amid Migration Pressures
UK Police Detain Pro-Palestine Activist Again Weeks After Bail Release
FTSE 100 Advances as Energy and Mining Shares Gain Amid Middle East Tensions
Eli Lilly Seeks UK Pricing Deal to Unlock Renewed Pharmaceutical Investment
Three Arrested in UK After Massive Cocaine Haul Discovered Hidden in Banana Shipment
UK Fuel Prices Poised for Further Surge Amid Global Energy Pressures
Apple Subsidiary Penalized by UK Authorities for Breach of Moscow Sanctions
Western Allies Intensify Coordinated Sanctions Strategy Against Russia
UK Lawmakers Face Criticism Over Renewed Push for Social Media Restrictions
Starmer Signals UK Crackdown on Addictive Social Media Features
Rising Costs Push One in Five UK Hospitality Businesses to the Brink of Closure
Man Arrested on Suspicion of Attempted Murder After Car Strikes Pedestrians in UK, Injuring Seven
Escalating Conflict Involving Iran Tightens Fiscal Pressures and Highlights UK Economic Vulnerabilities
UK Moves to Confront Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ Operating in Its Waters
UK Housing Divide Deepens as Older Owners Hold Wealth While Under-30s Face Mounting Barriers
London Demonstration Calls on UK to Recognize Iranian Opposition’s Provisional Government
UK Green Party Vote on ‘Zionism is Racism’ Motion Collapses Amid Internal Disputes and Technical Failures
SNL UK Ignites Debate with Sharp Royal Satire Targeting Prince Andrew and Prince William
EU Proposes ‘Emergency Brake’ to Resolve Deadlock in UK Youth Mobility Talks
Thousands Rally in London to Oppose Rise of Far-Right Movements
Hong Kong Official Rejects Allegations of Surveillance Orders Targeting UK-Based Dissidents
PayPal Expands Cryptocurrency Services to Allow UK Users to Buy and Sell Bitcoin
UK Minister Challenges Reform Party’s ‘Pro-Family’ Agenda as Debate Intensifies
Concerns Grow Over Meningitis Risk Among UK Students Amid Warning Signs of New Outbreaks
Japanese Grand Prix 2026: Schedule, UK Start Times and Full Broadcast Details
Electric Vehicles Seen as Strategic Solution to UK Fuel Reserve Concerns
Rise of Lone-Actor Threats and Online Radicalisation Drives New Wave of Antisemitic Attacks in the UK
Canada Advances Plan to Ban Cryptocurrency Donations in Election Campaigns
UK Faces Looming Medicine Shortages as Iran Conflict Threatens Supply Chains
Deadly Meningitis Outbreak in the U.K. Highlights Urgent Need for Vaccination
Fresh Claims Emerge Over Harry and Meghan’s Australia Visit as Insider Speaks Out
NATO Assessment Indicates UK Defence Spending Has Fallen Below Alliance Average
FTSE 100 Slips as Middle East Tensions Weigh on Investor Sentiment
UK Economy Begins to Feel Early Impact of Iran Conflict as Policy Challenges Intensify
Russian National Jailed in UK After Assault Case Linked to Barron Trump’s Alert
Energy Price Surge Accelerates Shift Away from Fossil Fuels in UK Homes
×