Challenging times for all businesses

Over the next few days and weeks it’s likely we will all find our patience tested a little. The speed at which Omicron is spreading all across the North means nearly every business and organisation is struggling with staff shortages.

The health service of course is under immense pressure, and with hundreds of people forced to quarantine every day we are increasingly seeing the Southern Trust urging people only to come to the emergency department if their situation is life-threatening or an emergency, for all other urgent medical matters they are directing people to seek alternative advice.

This comes as the Trust is repeatedly forced to appeal for any staff (registered or unregistered) to come in and help out. Faced with extra patients and less and less staff the sector is in an unsustainable position.

Likewise all other emergency services are also under pressure, the ambulance service, PSNI, and Fire Service are all being impacted by unprecedented staff absences. Each absence has an impact and any delay to one of these services, however slight, could cost lives.

Schools are also reporting huge difficulties maintaining staff numbers in their buildings. One of the priorities since the initial lock-down in March 2020 has been to try and keep schools open in some form. The impact on children missing out on school has been gauged to be immense and everyone in the sector is doing their best to keep them functioning. But with staff off ill and few substitute teachers available this is a real challenge for principals everywhere.

Every section of our life is currently being impacted by Omicron, so if you face a longer wait for your lunchtime sandwich, if you find your hairdresser has to cancel your appointment at the last minute, or your bin is late getting emptied then please try and remember every industry is struggling and we are all just trying to get through each day as it comes.