STAFF at Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth have given a unique insight into what it’s really like to work at the hospital in a series of candid interviews available to watch on YouTube.

The video, which was produced as part of the health board’s commitment to better understanding the challenges its frontline staff face, also explores how staff cope with extra pressure over the winter period.

Staff were asked to give their honest views in front of the camera about what they enjoy the most – and the least – about their jobs, what they would like to see changed and what the health board could be doing better.

Among the interviewees are staff nurse Nia Davies, who started working in A&E around a year ago when the hospital was experiencing increased pressures over winter.

She said: “At the moment I’m in A&E but I have been working on the ward as well. A&E is a fantastic place to work - I found it quite hard on the ward as I started in the middle of the winter pressures, and as a newly qualified nurse I found it difficult.

“I really enjoy my job, I like the pace of the work here and the pressures during busy times. Some days are harder than others, especially when there are staffing problems. And some patients are harder than others. But everyone supports each other here, so it’s not a problem.”

Alan Magor, a painter / decorator at Bronglais for over 30 years, added: “Over the winter everyone helps each other out. If the rain comes in somewhere, we sort that out; we clear the snow and make sure we grit the paths to avoid people falling over."

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